Bakery tops 2008 charts
Bread and baked products ranked number one for 2008, both in terms of consumer purchases and retail sales. According to AC Nielsen, a New York City market research company, 99 percent of U.S. homes purchased bread/baked products at least once during the 52 weeks ending June 28, 2008. The category generated $18.3 billion in sales through Nov. 1, 2008. Other popular consumer packaged categories include paper products, snacks and carbonated beverages.
Nielsen issued a year-end look at the most popular trends among Americans during 2008, covering everything from pop culture to consumer packaged goods.