Mixed results for tools

Studies by GfK reveal that the market for electric DIY tools in Germany is going through a difficult phase at present, while the prospects for garden tools are good. The negative trend in electric DIY tools started in May/June and continued throughout July/August, with a drop of 0.5 per cent compared with the same period last year. In the case of garden equipment, the July and August sales of both motorised and hand tools, and of irrigation products as well, were 4.4 per cent higher than the corresponding figure for 2007. May was such a strong month that a sales increase of 8.3 per cent was recorded for the first eight months of the current year. By contrast, product numbers rose by just 3.6 per cent. Overall the GfK expects the German garden tools market to achieve a significant increase in 2008.