FYI
The tip-off to the official start of the grilling season (May through September) is just around the corner.
-- Casual Living, 5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM
Briefly.....
The tip-off to the official start of the grilling season (May through September) is just around the corner
According to a recent study conducted by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Assn., 56% of consumers consider Memorial Day one of the most popular grilling holidays of the year. However, holidays are not the only times consumers are firing up the grill. The Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Assn. found nearly three-fifths of grill owners are using their grills year round.
Findings from Casual Living’s 2007 exclusive Consumer Buying Trends Survey of consumers with incomes of $75,000 or more reveal:
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65% of all grill buyers are between the ages of 35 and 55.
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Gas grills are by far the most popular, bought by 79%, followed by charcoal grills, bought by 16%.
Consumer credit outstanding
Percent change at annual rate
Seasonally adjusted
| 2007 | 2008 | ||||||
| Q1r | Q2r | Q3r | Q4r | Dec.r | Jan.r | Feb.p | |
| r = revised; p = preliminary | |||||||
| Total | 4.7% | 5.6% | 8.2% | 4.0% | 1.0% | 4.9% | 2.4% |
| Revolving | 5.4 | 6.8 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 2.8 | 7.1 | 5.9 |
| Nonrevolving | 4.4 | 4.9 | 7.9 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 3.6 | 0.4 |
Covers most short- and intermediate-term credit extended to individuals, excluding loans secured by real estate.
Nonrevolving credit includes automobile loans and all other loans not included in revolving credit, such as loans for mobile homes, education, boats, trailers or vacations. These loans may be secured or unsecured.
Source: Federal Reserve
Housing
Unit numbers in thousands
Seasonally adjusted annual rate
| Permits | United States | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
|
February ’08 numbers are preliminary
Source: Bureau of the Census and National Assn. of Realtors |
|||||
| February ’08 | 978 | 103 | 142 | 503 | 230 |
| Change from Feb. ’07 | -36.5% | -26.4% | -32.7% | -34.9% | -44.8% |
| Starts | |||||
| February ’08 | 1,065 | 102 | 159 | 555 | 249 |
| Change from Feb. ’07 | -28.4% | -23.9% | -2.5% | -30.5% | -36.5% |
| New home sales | |||||
| February ’08 | 590 | 37 | 73 | 333 | 147 |
| Change from Feb. ’07 | -29.8% | -19.6% | -42.5% | -27.9% | -28.3% |
| Existing home sales | |||||
| February ’08 | 5,030 | 890 | 1,240 | 1,990 | 920 |
| Change from Feb. ’07 | -23.8% | -26.4% | -19.5% | -22.0% | -29.2% |
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