The NPD Group, Inc., a leading market research company, released the results of its latest data on small appliance sales. Small appliances as a whole were down in the six-week period ending Nov. 8, 2008, versus the same time last year.

However, some categories experienced significant growth of 20 percent or more during these six weeks, compared to 2007, those being:

• Combo hand / stand mixers
• Bare floor cleaners
• Body groomers
• Fans
• Popcorn makers
• Tea makers
• Personal wellness
• Rice cookers


On a weekly basis, the early part of this time frame was basically flat in unit sales with only single-digit declines, but in the second week of November, units were down 35 percent compared to last year.

However, the second week of November did prove positive for a select few categories that showed double- and triple-digit dollar growth, those being:

• Workshop vacs
• Combo hand / stand mixers
• Bare floor cleaners
• Tea makers
• Electric rotisseries
• Fans
• Popcorn makers
• Lighted mirrors