- Contents
- *Scope and Themes
- What you need to know
- Definition
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
What you need to know
Modest improvement in the economy and a stronger housing market have helped the refrigerators, freezers, and dishwashers category recover some of what it lost during the recession. Total category sales posted a solid gain in 2013, rising to $14.2 billion. Manufacturers are working to build on this renewed momentum with appliances offering greater convenience, superior performance, improved energy efficiency, and new options in styling. As long as economic conditions continue to improve, these efforts should pay off in continued strength in the market.
Definition
For the purposes of this report, Mintel has used the following definitions:
This report builds on the analysis presented in Mintel’s Dishwashers, Refrigerators, and Freezers – US, November 2010. The following definitions have been used for product segmentation:
Refrigerators include modular refrigerators, and compact and standard sizes. Top-freezer, side-by-side, French door and bottom-freezer refrigerators are included.
Freezers include both upright and chest models.
Dishwashers include portable and built-in models.
Includes purchases made by consumers and excludes purchases made by institutions/organizations, businesses, home builders/developers, government agencies, and other non-consumers. Used and rented appliances are also excluded.
Value figures throughout this report are at retail selling prices (rsp) excluding sales tax unless otherwise stated.
Sales data
Market Size and Forecast and Segment Performance – Total consumer expenditures based on Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Income and Program Accounts; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey
Consumer survey data
For the purposes of this report, Mintel commissioned exclusive consumer research through GMI to explore consumer consumption of/attitudes and behaviors toward refrigerators, freezers, and dishwashers. Mintel was responsible for the survey design, data analysis, and reporting. Fieldwork was conducted in January 2014 among a sample of 2,000 adults aged 18+ with access to the internet.
Mintel selects survey respondents so that they are proportionally balanced to the entire US adult population based on the key demographics of gender, age, household income, and region. Mintel also slightly oversamples, relative to the population, respondents that are Hispanic or black to ensure an adequate representation of these groups in the survey results. Please note that Mintel surveys are conducted online and in English only. Hispanics who are not online and/or do not speak English are not included in the survey results.
Mintel has also analyzed data from Experian Marketing Services, using the Simmons National Consumer Study (NCS), and the Simmons National Hispanic Consumer Study (NHCS). The Experian Marketing Services, Simmons NCS/NHCS was carried out during July 2012-September 2013 and the results are based on the sample of 23,213 adults aged 18+, with results weighted to represent the US adult population. Additional data from Experian Marketing Services, Simmons NCS/NHCS is included for July 2007-September 2008, July 2008-September 2009, July 2009-September 2010, July 2010-September 2011, and August 2011-August 2012.
While race and Hispanic origin are separate demographic characteristics, Mintel often compares them to each other. Please note that the responses for race (white, black, Asian, Native American, or other race) will overlap those that also are Hispanic, because Hispanics can be of any race.
Abbreviations
The following is a list of abbreviations used in this report:
| CPI | Consumer Price Index |
| GNPD | Global New Products Database |
| MULO | Multi Outlet, representative of the following channels: total U.S. Grocery, Mass, total US Drug, total Walmart, Dollar, Military, and Club |
| NACS | National Association of Convenience Stores |
| NHCS | National Consumer Study/National Hispanic Consumer Study (Experian Marketing Services) |
| rsp | Retail selling price |
Terms
Generations, if discussed within this report, are defined as:
| World War II/Swing generations | Members of the WWII generation were born in 1932 or before and are aged 82 or older in 2014. Members of the Swing Generation were born from 1933 to 1945 and are aged 69-81 in 2014. |
| Baby Boomers | The generation born between 1946 and 1964. In 2014, Baby Boomers are between the ages of 50 and 68. |
| Generation X | The generation born between 1965 and 1976. In 2014, Gen Xers are between the ages of 38 and 49. |
| Millennials* | Born between 1977 and 1994, Millennials are aged 20-37 in 2014. |
| iGeneration | Born between 1995 and 2007, members of iGen are aged 7-19 in 2014. |
| Emerging generation | The newest generation began in 2008 as the annual number of births declined sharply with the recession. In 2014 members of this as-yet unnamed generation are under age 7. |
* also known as Generation Y or Echo Boomers
In order to provide an inflation-adjusted price value for markets, Mintel uses the CPI to deflate current prices. The CPI is defined as follows:
| CPI | The Consumer Price Index is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. The CPI and its components are typically used to adjust other economic series for price changes and to translate these series into inflation-free dollars. Examples of series adjusted by the CPI include retail sales, hourly and weekly earnings, and components of the national income and product accounts. In addition, and in Mintel reports, the CPI is used as a deflator of the value of the consumer’s dollar to find its purchasing power. The purchasing power of the consumer's dollar measures the change in the value to the consumer of goods and services that a dollar will buy at different dates. The CPI is generally the best measure for adjusting payments to consumers when the intent is to allow consumers to purchase, at today’s prices, a market basket of goods and services equivalent to one that they could purchase in an earlier period. It is also the best measure to use to translate retail sales into real or inflation-free dollars. Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics definition. |
