ROSEMONT, Ill.–The average U.S. household spent $609 on housewares in 2008, an increase of 0.7 percent over the prior year, according to the latest State of the Industry Report from the International Housewares Association.
The new data, compiled for IHA by Riedel Marketing Group, showed that average household spending increased for both housewares and personal-care products, while the average for furniture, appliances and miscellaneous household equipment fell. In terms of overall spending, U.S. households spent more on housewares than on dairy products, and slightly less than on fruits and vegetables. The average household expenditure on gasoline and motor oil was nearly four times of that for housewares, the report said.
Among other findings by Riedel Marketing:
•Fifty-eight percent of IHA member companies manufacture their products offshore, while 34 percent make some products in the United States.
•Sixty-five percent of the trade association’s member companies export products to other countries.
•Discount stores and supercenters remained the leading sales channels for IHA member companies. Other channels did pick up share, however.
•Virtual retailers accounted for 13 percent of all housewares in 2008, down slightly from 2007—although manufacturers’ direct-to-consumer Web sites made sales gains.