SelectUSA Consumer Goods Industry
Industry Overview
The United States is a world leader in consumer goods market research, product innovation, manufacturing, and branding and marketing. The United States also has a highly skilled workforce in the consumer products arena. The U.S. companies that make up the consumer goods industry are as varied as the subsectors within the industry. Opportunities exist for both large and small companies across the spectrum of subsectors that make up the consumer products landscape. Because the U.S. market is broad and open, the typical U.S. consumer is receptive to both domestic and imported brands.
Industry subsectors include: appliances; toys; furniture and home furnishings; recreational boats; recreational vehicles (RVs); motorcycles; games; gifts; greeting cards; school and office products; jewelry; sporting goods; musical instruments; and processed foods and beverages, including water, juices, beer, wine, spirits, and all non-alcoholic beverages. A few of these are discussed in the next section.
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of sporting goods and accessories; billiard and pool supplies; sporting firearms and ammunition; and/or marine pleasure craft, equipment, and supplies. In 2022, there were 5,404 establishments in this industry. As of mid-2024, an estimated 68,200 workers are employed in this industry.
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of games, toys, fireworks, playing cards, hobby goods and supplies, and/or related goods. As of 2022, there were 2,015 establishments in this industry. As of mid-2024, approximately 127,200 workers were employed in this industry.
Industries in the Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing subsector make furniture and related articles, such as mattresses, window blinds, cabinets, and fixtures. The processes used in the manufacture of furniture include the cutting, bending, molding, laminating, and assembly of such materials as wood, metal, glass, plastics, and rattan. However, the production process for furniture is not solely bending metal, cutting and shaping wood, or extruding and molding plastics. Design and fashion trends play an important part in the production of furniture. The integrated design of the article for both esthetic and functional qualities is also a major part of the process of manufacturing furniture. Design services may be performed by the furniture establishment’s work force or may be purchased from industrial designers. Furniture may be made of any material, but the most common ones used in North America are metal and wood.
There were 14,606 establishments in this industry in 2022. Foreign direct investment in the industry totaled $2 billion in 2023 and supported 15,000 jobs in the industry in 2022. In mid-2024, over 341,000 workers were employed in this industry.
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing soft drinks and ice; purifying and bottling water; and manufacturing brewery, winery, and distillery products. As of 2022, there were 12,240 establishments in this industry. Foreign direct investment supported 51,700 jobs in this industry in 2022. Foreign direct investment totaled $5.3 billion in the beer, wine, and distilled beverage industry in 2023. In mid-2024, 333,500 workers were employed in this industry.
Explore the impact of foreign direct investment on U.S. jobs, exports, and innovation in the consumer goods industry.
The Investor Guide is a high-level view of everything from taxes to immigration and workforce to business structures.
SelectUSA has created several dashboards to help analyze key FDI data from a variety of sources.
