Nursery products sales increase by 20% in UK | Key4Communications |

The nursery industry has enjoyed a cracking start to the year, market research group GfK's Tullika Bhallahas indicated to Nursery Industry. Nursery products enjoyed a 20% growth month-on-month in January, based on retail sales trends. Rising consumer confidence and falling inflation mean parents can afford to spend more on their babies, it suggested.

And although the overall prices continue the downward trend, the last 12 months have seen a growth of 7.7% in the sector. Items big and small appear to have contributed to this positive trend, from bibs to thermometers and high value items such as furniture.

The market research has indicated that sales in January saw a big push in volumes as compared to December 2014. In value terms, when compared month-on-month, GfK said the strollers category grew by 8% as products become more expensive. For example, it said travel systems became £20 more expensive in January 2015 as compared to January 2014.

Another significant trend in the Strollers sector is the decline of heavy-weight strollers with those from 5.5kgs upwards down when compared to previous periods.

Baby monitors appear to have been the most price-sensitive category within nursery hardware. GfK said prices have increased by £3 year-on-year. It added that parents seem to prefer to spend money on monitors with video more than any other feature.

Notably, Isofix has had a growth spurt in January 2015, Gfk said, with a 90% increase in sales as compared to January 2014.