You can prove anything with statistics

Numerous research agencies and industry firms choose the National Hardware Show – winding up today in Orlando, Fla. – as their platform for introducing statistics on the state of the industry. Here are some facts and figures to tuck away:

2. Rank of major outdoor projects like ponds, fire features and outdoor kitchens among consumers’ most popular home-improvement projects. (First: kitchen makeovers.)

10. Percentage of home-improvement sales generated by lawn and garden.

36. Percentage of outdoor lighting sales to consumers age 55 and over.

50. Billions of dollars generated annually by the lawn and garden segment.

75. Percentage of lawn and garden sales occurring between April and September.
1,000. Number of exhibitors launching new lines in this year’s New Product World section of the show.

And if you can stand one more statistic just released out of left field:
29. Percentage of people using formal dinnerware at Thanksgiving, leaving the rest of us eating off of disposable plates and casual dinnerware.

Sources: NPD Group; Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, SEN Design Group, National Hardware Show.

-- Kevin