Appliance sales mixed

Sales of small appliances last year declined while sales of major appliance varies, it was learned over the weekend.

Major white appliances such as freezers, refrigerators and airconditioners managed to post slight growth, while sales of television sets, VCR/VCP players, microwave ovens and ranges declined.

Based on statistics from the Philippine Electrical Electronics and Allied Industries Federation (PEEAIF), freezer sales posted a growth of 26.3 percent last year with a total of 17,300 units sold from January to December.

The PEEAIF, however, did not release the comparable sales figure for 2000.

Sales of airconditioners also posted a slight growth last year of 16 percent with 371,900 units sold.

Refrigerator sales were slower, posting a growth of only 8.2 percent or 466,900 units sold, while washing machine sales dropped by a marginal 1.1 percent with 570,600 units sold last year.

Consumers also shied away from buying microwave ovens resulting in a decline of 18.9 percent with total units sold reaching 28,800.

Sales of color TV sets were also slow last year, declining by 5.2 percent with only 883,100 units sold.

Consumer preference also shifted away from VCR/VCP players to VCD players.

Thus, sales of VCR/VCP players declined by a substantial 70.2 percent, while sales of VCD players zoomed 102.6 percent.

The sing-along also appears to have waned as karaoke sales dropped 37.5 percent.

With more people buying airconditioners, electric fan sales dropped slightly by 13.6 percent.

Rice cookers showed a decline of 16.8 percent, while stoves and ranges also showed negative growth of 16.8 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. – Marianne Go