Americans Are Spending a Record Share on Hobbies and Crafts

Americans are spending more on hobbies and creative activities than ever before.
Hobby-related purchases now account for nearly 5% of U.S. goods consumption, surpassing even the pandemic-era peak.
Sales at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book stores jumped 11.3% year over year in May.
With JOANN and Party City gone, retailers including Amazon, Michaels and Hobby Lobby are absorbing more of that demand.
Interest is also shifting toward social, hands-on activities: searches for “craft night” are up 103%.
After years dominated by passive digital consumption, Americans appear increasingly willing to spend money and time on actually making things again.