Home Accents Today market research worked with Easy Analytic Software Inc. to develop sales estimates and projections for area rugs, lamps, top-of-bed, and wall decor sales. Sales and estimates for wall decor and lamps will be in the February and March issues, respectively.

2008 sales estimates for each product category are based on data available through August 2008 and are subject to revision as additional data become available. Estimates are based on information from the Department of Commerce, the International Trade Commission, sales estimates from manufacturers and retailers, Home Accents Today's Consumer Buying Trends Surveys, Home Accents Today and HGTV's Consumer Views Survey, Furniture/Today's Consumer Buying Trends Surveys and Furniture Store Performance Report as well as discussions with industry executives and analysts.

Segment figures were aggregated by Home Accents Today and statisticians at EASI. EASI matched demographic data (such as age and income) gathered by Home Accents Today against other data sources such as the Bureau of the Census, the Department of Justice, the National Center for Education Statistics and the Department of Labor. EASI then uses a series of statistical models to develop estimates by metro markets.

EASI's highly accurate models are regression curves based upon a variety of factors designed to forecast changes that include growth and the interrelationship of variables. Projections for 2013 are designed to forecast the changes that statistically adjust for household income, age by race and sex, group quarter population and births and deaths, along with other forecasting factors. Spending forecasts assume a national rate of inflation that does not vary from one location to another. Other economic factors, such as unemployment rates, interest rate changes, etc., are not part of the forecast numbers.

Data are given for Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), defined as a geographic entity consisting of the county or counties containing one or more cores (urbanized areas or settlement clusters or both) that together have at least 10,000 population, plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core(s) measured through commuting patterns.

Within this broad definition, large metros, called Metropolitan Statistical Areas, have at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more population. Small metros, called Micropolitan Statistical Areas, have at least one urban cluster with a population of at least 10,000, but less than 50,000. Both designations include adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic integration with the core measured by commuting ties. The designations are mandated by the Office of Management and Budget and are used by government agencies for statistical reporting purposes.

Additional reports available

Sales estimations and projections for individual product categories are available in a series of Product Potential Reports.

Each Product Potential Report gives estimated 2008 sales and projected 2013 sales figures for each specific product for 939 metropolitan areas. Each report also provides state-level data for the product. Home accents products covered in separate reports are area rugs, lamps, top-of-bed and wall decor. In addition, reports are available for specific furniture products including master bedroom, youth and other adult bedroom furniture, casual dining, dining room furniture, entertainment furniture, curios, occasional tables, desks, other home office furniture, stationary sofas/sofa-sleepers, stationary chairs, reclining chairs, swivel/glider rockers and motion sofas. A full list of product categories available is on Home Accents Today's Research Store, available on our Web site.

Market Potential Reports on each of the nation's 939 metropolitan areas are also available. Each gives sales estimates and projections for sales of each of the product categories in a given market, plus additional estimates and projections of pertinent market data such as population, household sizes, number of households by age and income.

Both Product Potential Reports and Market Potential Reports may be ordered online at www.homeaccentstoday.com (through the Research button) and will be available mid-February.