Crunching the Numbers:
OBTAINING STATISTICAL DATA ON
RUG INDUSTRY A BIG CHALLENGE
By Lissa Wyman
WASHINGTON, DC -- Obtaining statistical data on the rug industry is a multiple challenge. Not only is it difficult to get "hard" data, but getting a handle on the size of the business also requires a great deal of "soft" interpretation.
The U.S. rug industry does not have an official trade organization that gather statistical information. As a result, there are no concrete facts about the size and scope and distribution patterns for rugs consumed in this country.
Some government statistics are available. The U.S. Department of Commerce provides data on imports and exports of textiles and apparel. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes figures on the US manufacture of carpets and rugs. The two government agencies work independently of each other.
Rugnews.com recently met with Phillip J. Martello, director of the office of textiles and apparel of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Martello filled us in on the history of the Commerce Department's data-gathering activities and also discussed what can be done to change the current system.
Joining Martello at the Washington, DC interview were Matt Priest, deputy assistant secretary for textiles and apparel at the Department of Commerce International Trade Administration; Lawrence J. Brill, director of the market expansion division of the Office of Textiles and Apparel, and Mary Lynn Landgraf, senior international trade specialist in the market expansion division.
This is the first in a series of three articles
"The US Department of Commerce has been gathering data on textile imports since 1932, and since that time, the categories that we use to gather data have not really changed that much," Martello told Rugnews.com.
Further refinement of the system for imports and exports came after World War II, Martello explained. "We piggy-backed export figures into the data-gathering, using the nomenclature of the Harmonized Trading schedule. When that happened, figures from the US, Canada and Japan were brought in line with British and European schedules.
One of the most frustrating aspects of data collection is that broadloom carpeting and rugs are invariably lumped together in one category. This applies to both the import figures and to domestic manufacturing.
The amateur researcher can extrapolate some information about the size of the rug import market by making a number of assumptions. For example, it is safe to assume that most Nepalese production is in rugs. However, those assumptions are not so easy to make for countries such as Belgium, China and Egypt, which manufacture both broadloom carpeting and rugs.
The challenge is to patiently explore the on-line labyrinth of tables, charts and numbers.
How to Access
Department of Commerce
Import Figures
1. To access imports of wool floor coverings: http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/msr/catV465.htm
In 2006, the total wholesale value of wool carpets and rugs imported to the U.S. amounted to $1.03 billion compared to $989 million in 2005. Note that these figures include both broadloom carpeting and rugs.
2. To access imports of man-made fiber floor coverings:
http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/msr/catV665.htm
In 2006, the total wholesale value of manmade carpets and rugs imported to the U.S. amounted to $771 million, compared to $703 million in 2005. Note that these figures include both broadloom carpeting and rugs.
3. To access the home page for the Department of Commerce - Office of Textiles & Apparel: http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/
4. To access import data categories: http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/msrpoint.htm
5. To access a list of code numbers for sub-categories within the floor covering category: http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/correlat/cor465.htm
How to Access
Department of Census figures on
US Carpet and Rug Manufacturing
The latest Economic Census of the U.S. Carpet & Rug Manufacturing segment covers the year 2002. Historically, the business census is made every five years.
The full census report for 2002 was issued in December, 2004. The full report can be found here:
http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i314110.pdf
The product code for carpet and rug mills is 314110
There are sub-categories numbers within the total category. However, the report does not fully explain the meaning of those product codes.
A look at the data indicates that the mill value (not the retail value) of 2002 shipments of American-made carpets and rugs amounted to $13.4 billion.
How much of this was in broadloom carpeting? Difficult to ascertain from the combined data.
How much of this was in bath and scatter
rugs (under 4x5)? Difficult to ascertain from the combined data.
Home much of this was in area and room size
rugs (over 4x5)? Difficult to ascertain from the combined data.
Bureau of the Census Current Industrial Reports
The Bureau of the Census releases more detailed industrial reports on a regular basis To access the latest report on carpets and rugs (covering 2005 and issued in June 2006), click here:
http://www.census.gov/industry/1/ma314q05.pdf
The current industrial report yields a more detailed break down of carpet and rug categories. However, the break-down does not fully reflect the industry's use of terminology.
For example, the mill value of all woven carpet and rug shipments amounted to $594.9 million dollars in 2005. Many, but not all, rugs are manufactured on weaving equipment (as opposed to tufted, needlepunch or knitted constructions).
Data are revealed for woven wool products ($94.1 million), but data on cotton and man made fiber woven rugs are not included to avoid disclosing information for individual companies. Again, the researcher has to depend on his own assumptions and a little arithmetic to reach a figure of $500.8 million as the mill value of woven manmade and cotton carpets and rugs. How much of this material was in the form of rugs? Again, we can make assumptions based on our knowledge of the industry, but the data is not clear.
It is also difficult to pry apart the figures in the tufted category of the Current Industrial Reports. There are three types of rugs listed:
-
washable scatter rugs 6x9 and smaller -- $704.3 million;
-
hard-backed nonwashable accent/area rugs 6x9 and smaller -- $561.1 million, and
-
room size rugs over 6x9 -- $104.9 million
(10% to 25% of the data for small washable rugs was estimated and 26% to 50% of the data for large room size rugs was estimated.)
The challenges in getting accurate figures in the tufted category are compounded by the fact that the Census Bureau does not break down rug sizes according to common industry usage. Area and room size rugs are commonly over 4 x 5 ft. in size, not over 6x9 ft. The way the government categorizes these rugs, all 5x8 and 6x9 room size rugs are folded into the scatter and accent rug categories.
NOTE: Despite the difficulties with the figures on carpets and rugs, The Department of Census website is filled with other fascinating facts and figures. Check it out at these two sites: http://www.census.gov/
and
http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en
Carpet & Rug Institute
The Carpet & Rug Institute is a trade organization headquartered in Dalton, GA. Despite its name, it is concerned primarily with carpets.
The CRI website is http://www.carpet-rug.org
The CRI website publishes a limited amount of statistics.
This is the link to the CRI overview of the industry: http://www.carpet-rug.org/drill_down_2.cfm?page=10&sub=3
Coming next: Phil Martello of the Commerce Department outlines the steps that can be taken to change the current system and refine the language and categories that the government uses
4.27.07