NPD Projects Growth in Global Toy Market

PORT WASHINGTON, September
10: Revenues from toy sales worldwide hit some $72 billion in 2007, the NPD
Group has revealed, with a projection of $86.3 billion by 2010.

The strong growth
estimates come amid a slowdown in the U.S. economy as well as rising
competition from the video-game and online sectors.

According to the report,
North America accounts for 33 percent of worldwide sales, followed by Europe
with 30 percent and Asia with 24 percent. An 18-percent growth rate is
projected for the Asian toy market by 2010.

Sales in Brazil, Russia,
India and China (BRIC) are outpacing total market sales. In 2004, BRIC
countries made up 8.8 percent of world toy market sales; in 2007, this share
had risen to 11.2 percent.

The only country to show
negative dollar sales growth in 2007 was the U.S. However, NPD estimates the
U.S. market will return to growth. After the U.S., Japan and the U.K. produced
the most revenue in 2007, generating $5.95 billion and $4.38 billion,
respectively.

—By Mansha Daswani