American Kids Consume More Than 40% of the Worldwide Toys
A
recent book, The Real Toy Story starts off reminding us how toys
inspire love and help children develop intellectually, physically,
emotionally and socially. But the rest of the book paints the industry as
a shiny apple that is practically rotten to the core, writes USA Today.
Here are just some interesting facts on the U.S. toy market.
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Americans spend $21 billion a year on toys, with the industry dominated by toymakers Mattel and Hasbro.
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About 60% of toys sold in the USA are bought in just three outlets: Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us.
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Fewer than 4% of the world's children are American, but American kids consume more than 40% of the world's toys.
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About 80% of toys sold in the USA are made in China's Pearl River Delta.
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Bulk of U.S. toys are produced in China in about 8,000 toy factories by 3 million workers.
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Of the $9.99 retail price of a Chinese-made Barbie doll in 2000, only 35 cents went to the producers in China for the factory and the labor.
For The Real Toy Story book, author Eric Clark interviewed more than 200 people and travelled wide and far.
Source/Related: 'Real Toy Story' reveals dark side of toy industry - USA Today
