PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.–New technology, energy efficiency and style provided the fuel behind dollar-sales growth in the major appliance sector in 2007, according to a just-released report by The NPD Group.
Dollar sales rose for both home-laundry products and dishwashers last year, with the former segment registering a 5 percent increase in sales and the latter nearly 10 percent. In washing machines, sales grew on the strength of consumers’ rising preference for front-loading washing machines, which are considered a more energy-efficient option and whose dollar sales jumped 20 percent in 2007; this segment now represents 40 percent of the total washing-machine market, the NPD report said.
The rise in dollar sales for dishwashers resulted from the continuing growth in Energy Star-rated products, which also boosted average selling prices.
Mark Delaney, director of NPD’s home services, said the growth numbers in the report demonstrate that “appliances that deliver performance while demonstrating concern for the environment, either through energy savings or water conservation, will outperform” other appliances.