Retailers goose opening prices
Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/3/2003 12:00:00 AM
NEW YORK —
The lower have gone higher. Results from Home Textiles Today's second annual Market Basket Survey suggest that retailers have made a relative retreat from last year's heavily promotional environment — at least where a comparison of opening price points is concerned.
The average price of an opening price point shopping cart filled with standard bed and bath products rose by double digits compared to last year at seven of the nine stores visited by HTT editors. The jump ranged 12.7 percent at Wal-Mart to 55.2 percent at Kmart, which last year was in the final throes of its "match Wal-Mart" pricing effort. Tickets on opening price point market baskets fell lower at only two stores: Sears, down 7.1 percent, and Kohl's, down 1.5 percent.
HTT surveyed assortments at nine of the country's top home textiles retailers: Wal-Mart, JCPenney, Kmart, Target, Sears, Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens 'N Things, TJX's Marshalls and Kohl's.
Editors set out with a prototypical shopping list for the bedroom and bathroom, and scouted for both the lowest and highest priced offerings in each store for each item. In the interest of discovering each store's baseline pricing, sale and clearance items were not included — except at Kohl's, where some sale items were the only ones available to fill the shopping list.
Although the survey does not encompass the full assortment offered by each retailer across its store base, it does represent what a typical shopper would have found if she had visited these stores in these markets in mid-February. (See methodology, page 13.) While not every store visited by HTT offered every product on the list, none of the missing items caused a significant variation in the price of the market baskets.
Bedding products included a queen-sized sheet set, comforter, dust ruffle, quilt and blanket, as well as a pair of standard shams and a throw. Bath products included a bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel, washcloth, shower curtain, bath rug, soap dish, liquid dispenser and tissue box.
Not surprisingly, Wal-Mart emerged as the low-price leader of the pack, with its $188.29 tab ringing in 24 percent lower than No. 2 Sears' $234.24 ticket and 158 percent lower than No. 9 low-pricer JCPenney's $485.84 market basket.
Wal-Mart and Kmart were the only two retailers whose single lowest priced item in the market basket — in both cases, a washcloth — ticketed lower this year than the single lowest priced item in last year's basket. Wal-Mart's dropped from $1.00 to 80 cents. Kmart's knocked a penny off its cloth, coming in at $1.49.
While the majority of 2003 market baskets pushed their lower price points, nearly half lowered the ceiling on their top price point baskets. Sears logged the biggest year-over-year drop in the survey, with its top price point basket down 18.3 percent. Others lowering the boom included Kohl's, down 11.7 percent, Marshalls, down 15.8 percent, and Bed Bath and Beyond, down 1.8 percent.
Three chains also tightened the spread between their lowest and highest priced market basket items, with the low/high difference just $67.00 at Marshalls this year, $108.01 at Sears and $247.00 at Bed Bath & Beyond. The difference between Kohl's lowest and highest priced item remained steady over last year: $146.00.
Just three retailers offered enough upper price point merchandise to ring up tickets over $1,000: Bed Bath & Beyond, JCPenney and Linens 'n Things. They were also the only three with $1,000-plus baskets in 2002.
Bed Bath & Beyond's top-priced basket clocked in just a tad lower than last year: $1,604.85, down 1.8 percent. JCPenney's $1,209.92 basket represented a 9.7 increase over last year's basket. And LNT's basket jumped 15.2 percent to $1,183.83.
In this year's survey as in last year's, the percentage of US-made product dominated the baskets, although the US ratio in the total mix slipped from 57 percent to 53 percent.
US product constituted at least 50 percent of the total basket assortment (a combination of both a retailer's opening price point and top price point baskets) at Kmart, JCPenney, Target, Sears and Kohl's — although in every case except Sears, the percentage of the total was lower than in last year's market baskets.
China's portion of the total survey assortment inched up to 24 percent, and India climbed to 9 percent. The other 11 countries whose merchandise made their way into either the lowest or highest priced baskets accounted for just 14 percent of the overall mix.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Opening price point
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| 1 Two individually packaged shams at $14.99 each. 2 Two individually packaged shams at $89.99 each. 3 Shiro Palm handpainted metal, no supplier ID, no country of origin; Loudon, Creative Bath, ceramic, China; Leather, no supplier ID, China; Jewelry, Veratex, metal, India; Canterfury, Croscill, metal, India; Carrara Marble, Croscill, ceramic, China NA: not available |
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| Queen sheet set | $24.99 | NA | 180-tc cotton/poly | Pakistan |
| Queen comforter | 49.99 | Soft & Easy by Wamsutta/Springs | poly/cotton | USA |
| Pair of standard shams1 | 29.98 | Smooth Weave/BBB | poly/cotton | USA |
| Dust ruffle | 29.99 | Smooth Weave Tailored/BBB | poly/cotton | USA |
| Queen quilt | 99.99 | Nautica | cotton | NA |
| Queen blanket | 29.99 | Monte Carlo/Owen Mfg. | cotton | USA |
| Throw | 19.99 | Classic/Brentwood Originals | rayon chenille | India |
| TOTAL RETAIL | $284.92 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet (tie) | $12.99 | Imperial/Baltic Linen | cotton | Pakistan |
| Bath towel (tie) | 4.99 | Newport by Utica/WestPoint Stevens | cotton | USA |
| Hand towel (tie) | 3.99 | Newport by Utica/WestPoint Stevens | cotton | USA |
| Wash cloth (tie) | 2.99 | Newport by Utica/WestPoint Stevens | cotton | USA |
| 2.99 | Urban Stripe by Fieldcrest/Pillowtex | cotton | USA | |
| Shower curtain | 14.99 | Modern Leaf by Fieldcrest/Ex-Cell | vinyl | China |
| Bath rug | 5.99 | Step Out/Mohawk Home | cotton | India |
| Soap dish | 3.99 | Graffiti/NA | plastic | China |
| Lotion dispenser | 6.99 | Graffiti/NA | plastic | China |
| Tissue cover | 5.99 | Authentics/NA | plastic | NA |
| TOTAL RETAIL | $65.90 | |||
| Total Market Basket $350.82 | ||||
| Top price point | ||||
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Queen sheet set (tie) | $199.99 | JLA Home | 1,000-tc, 2-ply cotton | China |
| 199.99 | Luvettex 800 Luxuriance/JLA Home | 800-tc, cotton jacquard | China | |
| 199.99 | Wamsutta 400-tc sheets/Springs | combed Pima cotton | USA/Pakistan | |
| Queen Comforter (tie) | 89.99 | Fieldcrest/National Sleep Products | 230-tc, cotton, poly | USA |
| 89.99 | Somunus/National Sleep Products | cotton, down | USA | |
| Pair of standard shams2 | 179.98 | Duplex by Grand Patrician/WPS | cotton/poly | USA |
| Dust ruffle | 190.00 | Frette | 200-tc, Egyptian cotton | Italy |
| Queen quilt | 249.99 | Smith & Johnson/Park B. Smith | cotton/rayon, cotton | India |
| Queen blanket | 139.99 | Cotton Cashmere/Downtown Co. | cotton | Portugal |
| Throw | 59.99 | Safari Collection/Divatex | faux fur | Thailand |
| Total retail | $1,109.93 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | $49.99 | Elegance/Ashtons of England | cotton/modal/silk | England |
| Bath towel | 47.00 | Jacquard Stripe/Frette | Egyptian cotton | Turkey |
| Hand towel | 19.99 | Chess Collection/Simply Spa | Egyptian cotton | Portugal |
| Wash cloth | 12.99 | Chess Collection/Simply Spa | Egyptian cotton | Portugal |
| Shower curtain | 119.99 | Valerie/Veratex | woven jacquard/velvet | USA |
| Bath rug | 129.99 | All Natural/Simply Spa | cotton/linen | Portugal |
| Soap dish | 34.99 | Shiro Palm/NA | hand-painted metal | NA |
| Lotion pump | 39.99 | Shiro Palm/NA | hand-pointed metal | NA |
| Tissue box | 39.99 | various3 | various3 | China and India |
| Total retail | $494.92 | |||
| Total Market Basket $1,604.85 | ||||
JCPenney
Opening price point
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| 1 Two individually packaged shams at $21.99 each. 2 Two individually packaged shams at $60.00 each. NA: not available |
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| Queen sheet set | $29.99 | Royale | percale | USA |
| Queen comforter | 54.99 | WestPoint Stevens | poly/cotton | USA |
| Pair of standard shams1 | 43.98 | JCPenney Home | cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen dust ruffle | 39.99 | JCPenney Home | cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen quilt | 90.00 | American Pacific | cotton | China |
| Queen blanket | 29.99 | JCPenney Home | acrylic | USA |
| Throw | 99.99 | Woolrich | wool/nylon | USA |
| Total retail | $388.93 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | $10.99 | JCPenney Home | cotton | USA |
| Bath towel | 4.99 | Natural Affinity | cotton | USA |
| Hand towel | 3.99 | Natural Affinity | cotton | USA |
| Washcloth | 2.99 | Natural Affinity | cotton | USA |
| Shower curtain | 19.99 | Ex-Cell | vinyl | China |
| Bath rug | 16.99 | Mohawk | cotton | India |
| Soap dish | 6.99 | JCPenney Home | ceramic | China |
| Liquid dispenser | 9.99 | JCPenney Home | ceramic | China |
| Tissue box | 19.99 | JCPenney Home | ceramic | China |
| Total retail | $96.91 | |||
| Total Market Basket $485.84 | ||||
| Top price point | ||||
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Queen sheet set | $60.00 | Ocean Pacific | percale | Pakistan |
| Queen comforter | 300.00 | Croscill | rayon/poly/acrylic | USA/Thailand |
| Pair of standard shams2 | 120.00 | Croscill | rayon/poly/acrylic | USA/Thailand |
| Dust ruffle | 90.00 | Croscill | poly/cotton/rayon | USA |
| Queen quilt | 240.00 | JCPenney Home | cotton | China |
| Queen blanket | 59.99 | JCPenney Home | Pima cotton | USA |
| Throw | 99.99 | Woolrich | wool/nylon | USA |
| Total retail | $969.98 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | $10.99 | JCPenney Home | cotton | USA |
| Bath towel | 18.00 | JCPenney Home | cotton/rayon | USA |
| Face towel | 12.00 | JCPenney Home | cotton/rayon | USA |
| Washcloth | 8.00 | JCPenney Home | cotton/rayon | USA |
| Shower curtain | 79.99 | JCPenney Home | cotton | China |
| Bath rug | 27.99 | JCPenney Home | nylon | USA |
| Soap dish | 17.99 | JCPenney Home | brushed pewter | India |
| Liquid dispenser | 29.99 | Croscill | metal | India |
| Tissue box | 34.99 | Croscill | metal | India |
| Total retail | $239.94 | |||
| Total Market Basket $1,209.92 | ||||
Kmart
Opening price point
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| 1 Two individually packaged shams at $11.99 each. 2 Two individually packaged shams at $17.99 each. NA: not available |
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| Queen sheet set | $17.49 | Joe Boxer Flannel | poly/cotton | Pakistan |
| Queen comforter | 29.99 | Home Essentials | cotton/poly | Brazil |
| Pair of standard shams1 | 23.98 | Martha Stewart Everyday 4-star | NA | USA |
| Queen dust ruffle | 15.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday 4-star | cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen quilt | 59.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | cotton | China |
| Queen blanket | 19.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | cotton | USA |
| Throw | 9.99 | Biederlack of America | acrylic/poly | USA |
| Total retail | $177.42 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | $12.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | Egyptian cotton | USA |
| Bath towel | 2.99 | Ultima II by WestPoint Stevens | cotton | USA |
| Hand towel | 2.49 | Martha Stewart 4-star & Ultima II | cotton | USA |
| Wash cloth | 1.49 | Ultima II by WestPoint Stevens | cotton | USA |
| Shower curtain | 4.99 | Home Essentials | vinyl | China |
| Bath rug | 8.79 | Maples Family Collection | nylon | USA |
| Soap dish | 4.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | ceramic | China |
| Lotion dispenser | 9.99 | Allure | resin | China |
| Tissue box | 9.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | plastic | USA |
| Total retail | $58.71 | |||
| Total Market Basket $236.13 | ||||
| Top price point | ||||
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Queen sheet set | $37.99 | Dan River Eyelet Lace | 180-tc, cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen comforter (tie) | 59.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday 4-star | cotton/poly | USA |
| 59.99 | Dan River Eyelet Lace | cotton/poly | USA | |
| Pair of standard shams2 | 35.98 | Dan River Eyelet Lace | cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen dust ruffle | 27.99 | Eyelet Lace | cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen quilt | 59.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | cotton | China |
| Queen blanket | 79.99 | Biddeford warming blanket | acrylic | USA |
| Throw | 12.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | fleece, acrylic/poly | USA |
| Total retail | $314.92 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | $12.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | Egyptian cotton | USA |
| Bath towel | 9.99 | Martha Stewart Pima | Pima cotton | USA |
| Hand towel | 7.99 | Martha Stewart Pima | Pima cotton | USA |
| Wash cloth | 5.99 | Martha Stewart Pima | Pima cotton | USA |
| Shower curtain | 29.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | poly/cotton | China |
| Bath rug | 24.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | cotton | USA |
| Soap dish | 11.99 | NA | brass | Taiwan |
| Lotion dispenser | 12.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | ceramic, chrome | China |
| Tissue box | 12.99 | Martha Stewart Everyday | NA | China |
| Total retail | $129.91 | |||
| Total Market Basket $444.83 | ||||
Kohl's
Opening price point
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| 1 Sale item only queen comforter available at time of store visit. 2 Two individually packaged shams at $15.99 each. 3 Sale item only alternative to top-price quilt at time of store visit. 4 Sale item only bath sheet available in store during visit. 5 Two individually packaged shams at $49.99 each. NA: not available |
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| Queen sheet set | $41.24 | Villager/Liz Claiborne | cotton | USA/Mexico |
| Queen comforter | 69.991 | NA | flannel cotton | Portugal/USA |
| Pair of standard shams2 | 31.98 | NA | cotton | USA/imported |
| Dust ruffle | 29.99 | NA | poly/cotton | USA/imported |
| Queen quilt | 44.923 | Pem America | cotton | China |
| Queen blanket | 30.14 | Martex | nylon | USA |
| Throw | 19.99 | HomeStyles | acrylic | China |
| Total retail | $268.25 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet 4 | $8.49 | NA | cotton | Cambodia |
| Bath towel | 7.99 | Pillowtex | cotton | USA |
| Hand towel | 5.99 | Pillowtex | cotton | USA |
| Washcloth | 3.99 | Pillowtex | cotton | USA |
| Shower curtain | 17.99 | CHF | vinyl | USA/Japan |
| Bath rug | 14.99 | NA | NA | USA |
| Soap dish | 4.99 | NA | plastic | Taiwan |
| Pump | 6.99 | NA | plastic | Taiwan |
| Tissue box | 7.99 | NA | NA | USA |
| Total retail | $79.41 | |||
| Total Market Basket $347.66 | ||||
| Top price point | ||||
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Queen sheet set | $79.99 | Villager/Liz Claiborne Co. | cotton | USA/Thailand |
| Queen comforter | 69.991 | NA | flannel cotton | Portugal/USA |
| Pair of standard shams5 | 49.99 | NA | cotton | China |
| Dust ruffle | 39.99 | NA | cotton | USA/imported |
| Queen quilt | 149.99 | NA | linen/rayon | China |
| Queen blanket | 49.99 | NA | acrylic/poly | China |
| Throw | 39.99 | NA | poly | China |
| Total retail | $529.92 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | $8.49 | NA | cotton | Cambodia |
| Bath towel | 21.99 | 1888 Mills | cotton, embellished | USA |
| Hand towel | 19.99 | 1888 Mills | cotton | USA |
| Washcloth | 14.99 | 1888 Mills | cotton | USA |
| Shower curtain | 54.99 | Chapel Hill Designs | cotton/poly | Spain |
| Bath rug | 22.99 | Mohawk/Townhouse | nylon | USA |
| Soap dish | 14.99 | NA | NA | China |
| Pump | 19.99 | NA | NA | China |
| Tissue box | 34.99 | NA | NA | China |
| Total retail | $213.41 | |||
| Total Market Basket $743.33 | ||||
Linens 'n Things
Opening price point
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| 1 Two individually packaged shams at $9.99 each. 2 Two individually packaged shams at $59.99 each. NA: not available |
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| Queen sheet set | $24.99 | NA | cotton/poly | USA/imported |
| Queen comforter | 69.99 | Wamsutta | cotton/poly | China/USA |
| Pair of standard shams1 | 19.98 | NA | cotton | China |
| Dust ruffle | 29.99 | NA | cotton | China |
| Queen quilt | 39.99 | Sunham | poly/cotton | China |
| Queen blanket | 19.99 | NA | polyester | USA/Taiwan |
| Throw | 9.99 | Swift River Blanket | polyester | Taiwan |
| Total retail | $214.92 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | $9.99 | Royal Velvet | cotton | USA |
| Bath towel (on sale) | 3.99 | Martex | cotton | USA |
| Face towel (on sale) | 2.99 | Martex | cotton | USA |
| Washcloth (on sale) | 1.99 | Martex | cotton | USA |
| Shower curtain | 14.99 | Excel/Fieldcrest | vinyl | China |
| Bath rug | 6.99 | NA | cotton | India |
| Soap dish | 3.99 | NA | plastic | NA |
| Pump | 6.99 | NA | plastic | NA |
| Tissue box | 7.99 | NA | plastic | NA |
| Total retail | $59.91 | |||
| Total Market Basket $274.83 | ||||
| Top price point | ||||
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Queen sheet set | $149.99 | Croscill | supima cotton | USA/Thailand |
| Queen comforter | 199.99 | Nautica | cotton/rayon/poly | India |
| Pair of standard shams2 | 119.98 | NA | cotton/rayon/poly/nylon/silk | India |
| Dust ruffle | 59.99 | NA | cotton | China |
| Queen quilt | 249.99 | NA | cotton/rayon/poly/nylon/silk | India |
| Queen blanket | 79.99 | NA | cotton | Portugal |
| Throw | 59.99 | NA | NA | Thailand |
| Total Retail | $919.92 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | $27.99 | Grand Patrician | cotton | USA |
| Bath towel | 19.99 | Grand Patrician | MicroCotton | India |
| Face towel | 14.99 | Grand Patrician | MicroCotton | India |
| Washcloth | 6.99 | Grand Patrician | MicroCotton | India |
| Shower curtain | 79.99 | NA | cotton/poly/nylon/ rayon | India |
| Bath rug | 29.99 | Mohawk/Newmark | cotton | India |
| Soap dish | 16.99 | Croscill | NA | India |
| Pump | 27.99 | Croscill | NA | India |
| Tissue box | 39.99 | Veratex | NA | India |
| Total retail | $264.91 | |||
| Total Market Basket $1,184.83 | ||||
Marshalls
Opening price point
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| 1 Two individually packaged shams at $12.00 each. 2 Two individually packaged shams at $19.98 each. NA: not available |
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| Queen sheet set | $29.99 | Wamsutta | cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen comforter | 69.99 | Ralph Lauren Home | cotton | USA |
| Pair of standard shams1 | 12.00 | Boston Color | cotton | NA |
| Queen dust ruffle | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Queen quilt | 39.99 | American Classics Redefined | cotton | China |
| Queen blanket | 24.99 | Wamsutta/Owen Mfg. | Pima cotton | USA |
| Throw | 12.99 | Morocco | rayon chenille | China |
| Total retail | $201.95 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath Sheet | $14.99 | Simurg by Cicek | cotton | Turkey |
| Bath towel | 6.99 | Ralph Lauren Home/WPS | cotton | USA |
| Face towel | 4.99 | Simurg by Cicek | cotton | Turkey |
| Washcloth | 2.99 | Terrisol Corp. | cotton/poly | Brazil |
| Shower curtain | 7.99 | NA | polyester | China |
| Bath rug | 7.99 | Lacey Mills | nylon | USA |
| Soap dish | 2.99 | NA | resin | NA |
| Liquid dispenser | 3.99 | NA | glass | NA |
| Tissue box | 6.99 | NA | resin | NA |
| Total retail | $59.91 | |||
| Total Market Basket $261.86 | ||||
| Top price point | ||||
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Queen comforter | $69.99 | Ralph Lauren Home | cotton | USA |
| Pair of standard shams2 | 39.98 | Hand Stitched Velvet | rayon/cotton | India |
| Queen dust ruffle | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Queen quilt | 39.99 | American Classics Redefined | cotton | China |
| Queen blanket | 29.99 | Ralph Lauren Home | cotton | USA |
| Throw | 29.99 | NA | crushed velvet, beaded trim | China |
| Total retail | 208.94 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath Sheet | $14.99 | Simurg by Cicek | cotton | Turkey |
| Bath towel | 9.99 | Avanti | cotton | USA |
| Face towel | 5.99 | Earl & Wilson | cotton | Portugal |
| Washcloth | 3.99 | Avanti | cotton | USA |
| Shower curtain | 19.99 | Firenze | woven jacquard | NA |
| Bath rug | 29.99 | Ralph Lauren Home/Lacey Mills | cotton | USA |
| Soap dish | 5.99 | Croscill | resin | NA |
| Liquid dispenser | 9.99 | NA | glass | NA |
| Tissue box | 16.99 | Revman | plastic | NA |
| Total retail | $117.91 | |||
| Total Market Basket $327.85 | ||||
Sears
Opening price point
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| 1 Two individually packaged shams for $19.98 each. 2 Two individually packaged shams for $39.99 each. NA: not available |
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| Queen sheet set | $19.98 | Exceptional Value/Sears | 180-tc percale, cotton/poly | USA/imported |
| Queen comforter | 19.98 | Heartland/Sears | cotton/poly | USA |
| Pair of standard shams1 | 39.96 | New Traditions/Sears | cotton | NA |
| Queen dust ruffle | 34.99 | Colormate/Sears | 180-tc percale, cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen quilt | 19.98 | Exceptional Value/Peking Handicraft | poly/cotton | China |
| Queen blanket | 19.99 | New Traditions/Sears | Vellux, nylon | USA |
| Throw | 14.99 | Mohawk Home | poly | Australia/Indonesia |
| Total retail | $169.87 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet (tie) | $7.99 | Whole Home/Sears | cotton | USA |
| 7.99 | New Traditions/Sears | cotton | USA | |
| Bath towel | 2.99 | The Classic Towel/WPS | cotton | USA |
| Hand towel | 2.49 | The Classic Towel/WPS | cotton | USA |
| Washcloth | 1.99 | The Classic Towel/WPS | cotton | USA |
| Shower curtain | 19.99 | New Traditions/CHF Corp. | vinyl | China |
| Bath rug | 9.99 | Whole Home/Sears | DuPont nylon | USA |
| Soap dish | 1.98 | New Traditions/Sears | ceramic | China |
| Liquid dispenser | 3.98 | Exceptional Value/Sears | plastic | NA |
| Tissue box | 4.98 | Exceptional Value/Sears | plastic | NA |
| Total retail | $64.37 | |||
| Total Market Basket $234.24 | ||||
| Top price point | ||||
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Queen sheet set | $109.99 | Fieldcrest Cannon | 270-tc, Pima cotton | USA |
| Queen comforter | 19.98 | Fieldcrest | 250-tc, white goose down | USA/imported |
| Pair, standard shams2 | 79.98 | Whole Home/Sears | woven jacquard, poly/cotton | USA |
| Queen dust ruffle | 59.99 | Whole Home/Sears | cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen quilt | 79.99 | Whole Home/Sears | cotton appliqué | China |
| Queen blanket | 49.99 | Whole Home/Sears | fleece | Mexico |
| Throw | 44.99 | New Traditions/Sears | cotton | USA |
| Total retail | $444.91 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | $12.99 | Whole Home/Sears | cotton | USA |
| Bath towel (tie) | 17.99 | Croscill/Cheri Blum | cotton | India |
| Imperial by 1888 Mills | cotton | USA | ||
| Hand towel (tie) | 12.99 | Imperial by 1888 Mills | cotton | USA |
| Croscill | cotton | India | ||
| Washcloth | 6.99 | Whole Home/Croscill | cotton | India |
| Shower curtain | 39.99 | New Traditions/Sears | cotton | India |
| Bath rug (tie) | 24.99 | Whole Home/Cheri Blum | nylon | USA |
| Saturday Knight | nylon | Egypt | ||
| Soap dish | 14.99 | Exceptional Value/Sears | plastic | NA |
| Liquid dispenser | 16.99 | NA | ceramic | China |
| Tissue box | 34.99 | NA | resin | China |
| Total retail | $182.91 | |||
| Total Market Basket $627.82 | ||||
Target
Opening price point
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| 1 Two individually packaged shams at $9.99 each. 2 Two individually packaged shams at $34.99 each. NA: not available |
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| Queen sheet set | $29.99 | Target Corp. | 180-tc, cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen comforter | 24.99 | Target Corp. | cotton/poly | USA |
| Pair of standard shams1 | 19.98 | Target Corp. | cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen dust ruffle | 15.99 | Target Corp. | cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen quilt | 79.99 | Target Corp. | cotton | China |
| Queen blanket | 19.99 | Dayton Hudson | cotton | USA |
| Throw | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Total retail | $190.93 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Bath towel | $2.99 | Essence by Lady Pepperell | cotton | USA |
| Hand towel | 2.49 | Essence by Lady Pepperell | cotton | USA |
| Washcloth | 1.99 | Essence by Lady Pepperell | cotton | USA |
| Shower curtain | 9.99 | Target Corp. | vinyl | USA |
| Bath rug | 10.99 | Aladdin | Dupont Antron nylon | USA |
| Soap dish | 7.99 | NA | ceramic | China |
| Liquid dispenser | 7.99 | Bathworks | ceramic | China |
| Tissue box | 9.99 | NA | plastic | China |
| Total retail | $54.42 | |||
| Total Market Basket $245.35 | ||||
| Top price point | ||||
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Queen sheet set | $54.99 | Target Corp. | 200-tc, cotton | India |
| Queen comforter | 119.99 | Martex/Target Corp. | acrylic/poly | USA |
| Pair, standard shams2 | 69.98 | Martex/Dayton Hudson | cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen dust ruffle | 44.99 | Martex/Dayton Hudson | poly/rayon | USA |
| Queen quilt | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Queen blanket | 24.99 | Target Corp. | cotton | China |
| Throw | 19.99 | Target Corp. | cotton | China |
| Total retail | $334.93 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath sheet | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Bath towel | $7.99 | WPS/Indulgence II Pima/Martex | cotton | USA |
| Hand towel | 7.99 | WPS/Indulgence II Pima/Martex | Pima cotton/cotton | USA |
| Washcloth | 4.99 | WPS/Indulgence II Pima/Martex | Pima cotton/cotton | USA |
| Shower curtain | 24.99 | Target Corp. | cotton | USA |
| Bath rug | 19.99 | Target Corp. | nylon | USA |
| Soap dish | 9.99 | NA | ceramic | China |
| Liquid dispenser | 12.99 | NA | brushed chrome | Taiwan |
| Tissue box | 19.99 | NA | ceramic | China |
| Total retail | $108.92 | |||
| Total Market Basket $443.85 | ||||
Wal-Mart
Opening price point
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| 1 Two individually packaged shams at $12.96 each. NA: not available |
||||
| Queen Sheet Set | $21.97 | Mainstays Home | 128-tc, cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen Comforter | 17.82 | Jubilee | cotton/poly | USA |
| Pair, Standard Shams1 | 25.92 | Jubilee-Heirloom | ramie/cotton | China |
| Queen Dust Ruffle | 15.96 | Jubilee | cotton/poly | Mexico |
| Queen Quilt | 49.96 | Jubilee | ramie/cotton | China |
| Queen Blanket | 18.82 | Jubilee | cotton | USA |
| Throw | 9.50 | Jubilee/Mohawk Home | rayon/acrylic chenille | China |
| Total retail | $159.95 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath Sheet | $5.00 | Mainstays Basic | cotton | USA |
| Bath Towel | 1.50 | Mainstays Basic | cotton | USA |
| Hand Towel | 1.20 | Mainstays Basic | cotton | USA |
| Wash Cloth | 0.80 | Mainstays Basic | cotton | USA |
| Bath Rug | 9.96 | Mainstays Basic | nylon | USA |
| Shower Curtain | 5.96 | NA | cotton | China |
| Soap Dish | 1.96 | Main Street Basic | plastic | China |
| Liquid Dispenser | 1.96 | Main Street Basic | plastic | China |
| Tissue Box | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Total retail | $28.34 | |||
| Total Market Basket $188.29 | ||||
| Top price point | ||||
| Bedding | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Queen Sheet Set | $31.00 | Springs Linen Closet | 180-tc, cotton/poly | USA |
| Queen Comforter | 45.96 | Springs | cotton/poly | USA |
| Pair, Standard Shams1 | 25.92 | Jubilee/Heirloom | ramie/cotton | China |
| Queen Dust Ruffle | 25.96 | Linen Closet | cotton/poly | Mexico/USA |
| Queen Quilt | 55.96 | Home Trends Heirloom | cotton | China |
| Queen Blanket | 26.84 | Vellux-WPS | nylon | USA |
| Throw (tie) | 17.63 | Home Trends/Mohawk Home | polyester chenille | China |
| 17.63 | Home Trends/Mohawk Home | rayon/acrylic jacquard chenille | Hong Kong | |
| 17.63 | Home Trends/Mohawk Home | rayon/acrylic chenille | China | |
| Total retail | $229.27 | |||
| Bath | Price | Manufacturer | Construction | Country |
| Bath Sheet | $5.00 | Mainstays Basic | cotton | USA |
| Bath Towel | 7.96 | No Boundaries | cotton, embellished | Brazil |
| Hand Towel | 5.96 | No Boundaries | cotton, embellished | Brazil |
| Wash Cloth | 4.96 | No Boundaries | cotton | Brazil |
| Bath Rug | 21.96 | Springmaid | nylon | USA |
| Shower Curtain | 24.96 | Springmaid | vinyl | USA |
| Soap Dish | 7.96 | Springmaid | ceramic | China |
| Liquid Dispenser | 7.96 | Springmaid | ceramic | China |
| Tissue Box | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Total retail | $86.72 | |||
| Total Market Basket $315.99 | ||||
We would love your feedback!
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Market Basket Prices Recede
Apr 12, 2010 -
China DominatesMarket Basket
Mar 24, 2008 -
Price Retreat in Market Basket
Mar 12, 2007 -
Market Basket Reveals Broad Trade-Up
Mar 6, 2006 -
Market Basket Cheaper in '05
Mar 21, 2005
