issue: January 2005 APPLIANCE Magazine 53rd Annual Appliance Industry Forecasts North America - Is Lawn & Garden Running Out of Gas?	Share  Printable format  Email this Article  Search
by Jill Russell, Associate Editor The outdoor power equipment industry experienced steady growth along with the housing industry as homeowners invested to maintain the outside of their homes.

But with the housing industry expected to level off in 2005, the outdoor appliance industry is expected to do the same. As of press time, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) forecast moderate growth in 2004, in both hand-held and consumer and commercial equipment categories.

According to forecasts released in mid-2004, hand-held blowers, trimmers, and chain saws are expected to round off 2004 with 2.9-, 6.1-, and 4.2-percent increases, respectively. For 2005, all three categories are forecast for slight losses of 2.9, 2.1, and 3.3 percent. Backpack blowers are expected to fall 3.9 percent in 2004 and another 3.6 percent in 2005.

Commercial and consumer equipment, although set for a slightly better year than hand-held equipment, is only set to post moderate growth in 2004 and 2005. Walk-behind power mowers, forecast to increase 7.5 percent in 2004, are expected to slow in 2005. Shipments of consumer riders, which include rear engines, lawn tractors, and garden tractors, are expected to end slightly higher than 2003 levels in 2004 and grow 1.7 percent in 2005.

Commercial turf-riding mowers were the healthiest in 2004, posting a 30-percent increase. Another double-digit increase is forecast for the product segment in 2005 due to the popularity of zero-turn radius products, a category that is expected to grow throughout the next few years.