Despite 2009's punishing economy, a new report from NPD Group says that from January through October, global toy sales have been remarkably strong -- a promising sign for the final months of the year.
Toy purchases in both the U.S. and the U.K. saw moderate revenue declines, and sales in Spain were flat. But Poland, Australia, Italy, Austria, Belgium, and Portugal saw revenue growth from
between 5% and 10%.
By category, sales of action figures, accessories and role play, arts and crafts, and building sets showed growth in almost every country; youth electronics and plush toys
were the big losers.--Sarah Mahoney