Global markets show an increase of 7 percent heading into holiday season.
Toy sales are on the rise worldwide heading into the fourth quarter, according of to The NPD Group, with an increase of 7 percent reported across 11 global markets.
Typically the holiday season accounts for about half of retailer’s annual sales.
"This year, the hype is not centered on any one toy item or property; there is popularity around a variety of products, which is making 2015 a particularly strong year for the toy industry in markets around the world,” says Frederique Tutt, global toys industry analyst, The NPD Group. “Properties such as Star Wars, Minions, 'Paw Patrol' and 'Minecraft,' as well as tech-enabled toys with more innovative features, and those with more authentic and traditional play value are all converging to create a robust holiday season for the industry.”
Sales in smaller countries including Mexico and Poland are growing faster than sales in more developed countries, with Russia showing the fastest growth among those markets that NPD tracks globally. Even with the country’s high inflation, Russian consumers are spending more on toys and also buying more of them, with a 7 percent increase in unit sales during the first nine months of the year.
Top Three Best-Selling Toys, by Country*
United States
Mattel Hot Wheels Car basic assortment
Mattel "Minecraft" Mini Figures assortment
Spin Master "Paw Patrol" basic vehicle with puppy assortment
Canada
Mattel Hot Wheels Car basic assortment
United Kingdom
Flair Preziosi Shopkins 2-Pack
Mookie Toys Smart Trike 4-in-1 Trike assortment
Russia
Mattel Hot Wheels Car basic assortment
Mexico**
Mattel Hot Wheels Car basic assortment
Mattel Hot Wheels five cars gift pack assortment
Mattel Superman and Batman articulated figures
Poland
Mattel Hot Wheels Car basic assortment
Mattel Cars 2 single car assortment
*Source: The NPD Group, Inc. / Retail Tracking Service, January-September 2015
**Source: The NPD Group, Inc. / Retail Tracking Service, February-September 2015