NPD: Housewares industry suffers declines

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. According to The NPD Group the housewares industry saw declines across the board, no doubt as a result of the current economic climate.

The bakeware and cookware categories each had declines of nearly 4% in dollars based on NPD’s Retail Tracking Service. However, cookware did show signs of strength in the cast iron segment. The glass bakeware and glass dinnerware segments showed signs of strength as well.

In 2008, the glass bakeware segment that makes up 15% of the bakeware category grew by 6 percent. The clear standout in 2008 was cast iron cookware and bakeware. Those segments grew by 27% in dollar sales, compared to 2007. 

Despite double-digit dollar declines in many tabletop (dinnerware, beverageware, and flatware) categories last year, there were some segments that fared better than others.  The segments that fared best were those that were viewed as more economical and practical, and in some cases more casual, like the glass dinnerware and beverageware segments.

Glass dinnerware (glass/tempered glass/glass-ceramic), though a small segment of the dinnerware market, grew almost 8% in dollars during 2008. Glass beverageware declined nearly 8%, but when compared to crystal and acrylic options, each declining more than 17% it doesn’t look quite that bad.

The hardest hit housewares category in 2008 tracked by NPD, was crystal giftware. It was down by nearly 20% in dollars, compared to 2007.