By the Numbers: Shipments of all major appliances slumped in January '09

24 percent

Year-over-year decline in shipments of major appliances for January 2009, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Vendors shipped about 4.01 million units in January 2009, down from around 5.29 million units a year earlier. Double-digit declines were the norm, though dehumidifier shipments climbed 84 percent.

Shipping patterns could account for the dehumidifier number, as manufacturers looked to get products in stores in time for spring. Last year's weather patterns are also relevant. "Sales of seasonal products sometimes live on people's misery," says Kurt Kaufhold, vice president of home comfort at appliance manufacturer Haier. "I never went through so many dehumidifiers in the Midwest on account of all the rain and flooding we had."

With so many consumers buying dehumidifiers to keep their basements dry, "everybody ran out of units in the fall of last year," says Kaufhold. Production resumed in time for January shipments, and retailers restocked, leading to the gain.

Sales of major appliances were off 8.9 percent for all of 2008.

Comments

[SRS63]

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CR should test and review home carpet cleaners!!