Bowling Centers NAICS 713950

Apr 28, 2026 - Labor Costs Rise

• Employment and wages for bowling centers rose in February 2026 year over year, increasing 3.8% and 4.5%, respectively, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment by bowling centers rose 3.3% in the past decade, lower than the 11.5% growth in overall private employment. Average wages for nonsupervisory employees at amusement, gambling, and recreational industry firms were $22.57 per hour in February 2025. According to the Consumer Price Index, prices for other recreation services, including leisure and entertainment activities, were up 0.7% in March 2026 year over year.
• The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index, critical for the US bowling centers industry, rose 0.8 points to 91.8, signaling modest improvement but continued caution among consumers. While current conditions strengthened (Present Situation Index: 123.3), expectations weakened (70.9), reflecting uncertainty . Importantly, consumers are shifting spending toward “cheap thrills” and necessary services, away from highly discretionary activities. This trend supports bowling centers, which are relatively affordable entertainment options. However, rising inflation expectations and the share expecting higher interest rates jumping to 42.4% (from 34.9%) may constrain spending. Additionally, overall service spending intentions declined, signaling potential demand softness. Bowling centers may benefit from value-oriented consumer behavior but face risks from broader economic uncertainty and reduced discretionary spending.

• The United States Bowling Congress (USBC)’s 2025 recap signals stability and growth for US bowling centers. Membership remains steady at 1,075,194 (2024–2025), above 2021–2022 levels (1,053,129), and is forecast to be down less than 1% in 2026, supporting consistent league traffic for centers. Tournament participation is surging: the 2025 Open Championships drew a 13-year high 11,684 teams (up from 9,317 in 2022), while the Women’s Championships topped 4,099 teams, bringing nearly 75,000 bowlers combined and driving travel and lineage revenue. Nearly 11,000 teams are already registered for the 2026 Open in Reno. Center certification and technology upgrades measured 3,400 centers and 73,000 lanes, capturing 3.5 million data points, while online memberships grew from 40,000 to 100,000 in two years, easing administration. Youth growth is accelerating, with USA Bowling team entries up 22% and scholarship funding rising to $300,000 for 2026, strengthening long-term customer pipelines for centers.
• The US bowling centers industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% between 2025 and 2029, according to an updated forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is faster than the overall economy's projected growth. Spending by US households and tourists, foreign students, and other visitors largely drives the arts, entertainment, and recreation industries. Expenditure for travel, live entertainment, and other services has continued to rise since the pandemic lows. Consumer confidence is expected to improve in the forecast period, which bodes well for the sector. Further increases in tariffs and decreases in immigrant labor supplies may push price levels higher and postpone improvement of inflation. The slow rise of employment and higher consumption prices may limit expansion of real disposable income to about 1.8% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026.