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New statistics from the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) show that fitness club membership levels in the USA increased 3.6% in 2016 compared to 2015 - equating to a 19.3% penetration rate into the America population.

The new IHRSA report showed that, in 2016, 57.3 million people were members of a fitness club a rise from 55.3 million members in the USA in 2015.

The report, based on a study conducted by IHRSA as part of the USA’s Physical Activity Council, also found 36,540 fitness clubs in the country, an increase of 1% in one year. That number was arrived at using the industry’s SIC code of 7991* for the Yellow Pages and, therefore, may not include all studio locations because some of them may not be classified under this same SIC code, IHRSA explained in a media release about the report.

Revenue is up with health clubs generating $27.6 billion in 2016 compared to $25.8 billion in 2015, an increase of 7.2%.

Commenting on the findings, Jay Ablondi, IHRSA’s Executive Vice President of Global Products, stated “industry revenues continue to grow as members utilise their clubs more frequently with many investing in multiple health club options.

“While the increase in the number of fitness centres has slowed, club operators have adeptly responded to consumer needs and demands for variety in fitness programs and training formats.”

The report also found:

• 66 million consumers used a fitness club in 2016, an all-time high since IHRSA began tracking consumer statistics in 1987.
• The average member visited their club 106 times (twice per week) in 2016, which is also an all-time high.
• Nearly one out of five Americans belonged to at least one fitness club.
• Since 2009, fitness club membership has grown by 26.3%.
• Since 2009, the number of club-goers has increased by 26.5%.
* SIC is a Standard Industrial Classification system, used for classifying industries by a four-digit code. Established in the United States in 1937, it is used by government agencies to classify industry areas such as Physical Fitness Facilities.

29th April 2017 - ALMOST HALF OF FITNESS CLUB MEMBERS END THEIR MEMBERSHIPS WITHIN 12 MONTHS

11th April 2017 - LES MILLS NEWMARKET CLUB MANAGER APPOINTED TO IHRSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

26th May 2016 - IHRSA REPORTS ONGOING GROWTH IN GLOBAL FITNESS INDUSTRY 

20th April 2016 - LOWER WAGE COSTS BOOST PROFITABILITY OF 24/7 GYMS

4th February 2016 - IHRSA RELEASES NEW FITNESS CLUB RESOURCES

27th October 2015 - GLOBAL FITNESS CLUB REVENUES CONTINUE TO RISE

30th August 2015 - LATEST IHRSA MEMBER RETENTION REPORT EXAMINES LIKELY FITNESS CLUB PROMOTERS AND DETRACTORS 

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