The U.S. lawn and garden market reached a record $24 billion in sales in 2004, up a healthy 5 percent over 2003 sales, according to “The U.S. Lawn and Garden Market,” a new report from market research publisher Packaged Facts. While money isn't exactly growing on trees, the industry is pleased to see a return to the strong 4 to 5 percent annual growth rates of the late 1990s before the lawn and garden market stalled out in 2001.

“The overall lawn and garden market is being driven fundamentally by the “Two Booms”: the housing boom and aging baby boomers. These two macro factors have been and will continue to be overwhelmingly positive, creating strong underlying demand for lawn and garden products and services for years to come,” according to Don Montouri, acquisitions editor for Packaged Facts. “Whether or not this strong demand is expressed or is somehow bottled up depends on the vagaries of two other macro factors — the economy and the weather.”

In terms of retailers, “The U.S. Lawn and Garden Market” reports that home centers control the major retail share of lawn and garden equipment with an estimated 65 percent of sales, mostly at the expense of garden centers and nurseries. Home centers are formidable in terms of price, selection and convenience, causing the garden center and nursery sector to suffer.

Now in its 6^th edition, the updated 2005 edition of Packaged Facts' “The U.S. Lawn and Garden Market” analyzes major issues and trends, including the impact of regulation on technology, the ongoing housing boom and aging baby boomers as primary growth drivers, economic and weather uncertainties as potential growth inhibitors, and conglomeratization and vertical integration as strategic responses to a rapidly shifting competitive landscape. This study surveys consumer-purchasing patterns, features sales trends and projections of equipment, supplies and services, and profiles major marketers' new product trends.

For more information visit www.packagedfacts.com/pub/1049620.html.