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From Home Furnishing Business
Consumers Ready to Replace Household Goods
December 9,
2013 by in Economic News, Industry 
U.S. consumers have been holding tight to their worn out sofas much longer than their grandparents and past generations did, laying the ground for a possible rebound in consumer spending as things start to wear out.
Americans have been holding on to their wobbly washing machines and sagging sofas even longer than their grandparents did 50 years ago, setting the stage for a rebound in consumer spending as old household goods wear out.
The average age of consumer durable goods — long-lasting items such as furniture, appliances and computers — is the highest since 1962, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis dating to 1925. Among things Americans are keeping for the longest time: jewelry and wristwatches and home and garden tools like lawnmowers.
Replacement purchases, overdue after the worst recession since the Great Depression, would boost the consumer spending that accounts for 70 percent of the economy. Automobile sales are headed for their best year since 2007, showing Americans have the financial security to buy more expensive items, and economists say that means household-goods sales will pick up.
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Source: Denver Post