Sales of Christian products increased to $4.6 billion last year, according to reports by the major trade association for Christian retailing.
The $4.63 billion in 2006 sales, through a range of religious and secular distribution channels, is up from $4.3 billion in 2004, $4.2 billion in 2002 and $4 billion in 2000, reports CBA, a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based trade association.
CBA, formerly known as the Christian Booksellers Association, has a membership of more than 2,000 Christian stores, including national and regional chains, church-owned stores and independent retailers.
A new CBA study shows that 52 percent of Christian products are sold by Christian retailers while general market retailers — including stores such as Wal-Mart and Borders — sold 33 percent. The remaining 15 percent of sales including direct-to consumer and non-profit ministry sales.