ALEXANDRIA, Va.–Total unit shipments of mattresses and foundations fell by nearly 4 percent in January, and dollar shipments plummeted by more than 7 percent, according to the latest Bedding Barometer issued by the International Sleep Products Association.
In a statement issued yesterday, ISPA also said mattress sales would likely be soft for the balance of 2008 as the industry reels under the effects of the housing crisis, difficult credit markets and consumers who will be reluctant to shop. The association’s gloomy report jibed with statements from two of the industry’s largest manufacturers, Sealy and Tempur-Pedic. In the first week of March, Sealy, the nation’s number-one mattress manufacturer, said it expected its first-quarter sales to be down from last year. Earlier this week, Tempur-Pedic said first-quarter sales have been “significantly below” its expectations and would also be down for the quarter.
ISPA also said the economy should begin to recover in the fourth quarter of 2008 and continue into 2009, improving the industry’s outlook for next year. The association predicted that dollar sales of mattresses and foundations will rise by just 1 percent this year but then push up 7.5 percent in 2009. Unit shipments will drop 3 percent in 2008 but then rebound to a 4 percent gain next year, ISPA said.
The January sales data was derived from a sample of 19 leading mattress manufacturers.