ALEXANDRIA, Va.—U.S. sales of mattresses to retailers totaled $$236.5 million, 9.5 percent off from July 2008, as the industry continued its prolonged slide. The data came from the most recent Bedding Barometer from the International Sleep Products Association. On a unit basis, mattress sales also declined 9.5 percent to 759,066. The average unit selling price for the mattresses sold in July was $311.52, virtually dead even with the average price of the prior year.
For the first seven months of 2009, dollar sales fell 15.1 percent to $1.4 billion, while unit sales fell 12.2 percent to 4.7 million. The average unit selling price for the January-July period was $307.13, down 3.4 percent.
ISPA’s figures were derived from a survey of 18 U.S. mattress manufacturers, which collectively represent 56.3 percent of the total wholesale dollar shipments.