NEMA’s index for incandescent lamps registered a reading of 59.4 for the second quarter of 2009, which is essentially unchanged compared to the first three months of this year. However, the index decreased 11.8 percent on a year-over-year basis. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) showed a similar fate, although declining by a less severe rate of 3.9 percent on a year-over-year basis. At the same time, the CFL index increased 3.8 percent versus the first quarter of 2009, climbing to 222.6 on a seasonally adjusted basis. Recent performance may indicate the indices might be at or near bottom given the relatively flat to moderate increases in growth.

CFLs regained market share and then some compared to incandescent lamps during the second quarter, accounting for a record 26.6 percent share of residential-use lamp sales. A shift toward more expensive CFLs, on a first cost basis, is indicative of a possible loosening of consumer purse strings as the overall economy is expected to turn around during the second half of the year.

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