Floor care, hot beverage makers lead small appliance sales

Small kitchen electrical appliances showed a 16% sales growth this past October, compared to a year ago, and sales of home environment appliances increased 7%, last month, according to industry analysis prepared by the NPD Group.

The top-selling small appliance categories for October 2009 included floor care (uprights, deep carpet cleaners, and canister vacuums) and such hot beverage categories as drip coffee makers. Leading categories showing strong dollar growth in year-over-year comparisons were specialty hair stylers, roaster ovens, and juice extractors.

Key small appliances categories that drove 2008 Black Friday dollar sales included upright vacuums, stand mixers, and automatic drip coffee makers, according to the NPD research.