In the late 1990s, the U.S. Department of Commerce identified 2,293 manufacturers of precious metal in the United States.
The flatware industry was dominated by stainless steel in the late 1990s. The dominance was expected to continue as a result of consumers seeking to bridge the gap between low-end flatware and silverware.
The approximately 400 establishments in this industry produced roughly $817 million in shipments in 2000. Precious metal finding accounted for more than half of this total.
This category covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing musical instruments and parts and accessories for musical instruments. The primary products in this category are pianos, with or without player attachments, and organs.
In 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, doll and stuffed toy industry shipments totaled $329 million, down from $343 million in 1999.
The U.S. toy industry, a $20.3 billion business in 2002, is a fast-paced industry that showed slow overall growth during the first years of the twenty-first century.
Like other sectors of the U.S. economy, the sporting goods industry was undergoing substantial change in the 2000s.
This industry contains establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing pens (including ballpoint pens), refill cartridges, mechanical pencils, fine and broad tipped markers, and parts.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 172 establishments primarily producing pencils and art supplies in the latter part of the 1990s.
In 2001, there were 535 firms operating 551 establishments in this industry. The leader was Shachihata Incorporated USA of Torrance, California, with sales of $700 million and 900 employees.
This industry contains establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing carbon paper, spirit or gelatin process and other stencil paper, and inked or carbon ribbons for business machines.
There were slightly more than 900 firms actively manufacturing costume jewelry in the United States in the late 1990s. Many of the older companies were still based in Rhode Island (which hosts more than 270 of the firms in this industry).
Needles, pins, and fasteners—made from metals and both natural and manmade fibers—comprise the largest share of this industry's output. Zippers, slide fasteners, buttons, and button parts—made from both plastics and metals—were less dominant but notable types of industry products.
This category covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing household, industrial, and street sweeping brooms; and brushes, such as paintbrushes, toothbrushes, toilet brushes, and household and industrial brushes.
More than 5,743 establishments were engaged in the manufacture of signs and advertising displays in the late 1990s. Industry shipments grew from $7.9 billion in 1997 to $9.7 billion in 2000.
This industry includes companies primarily engaged in manufacturing burial caskets, vaults, and cases, including shipping cases, of wood, metal, fiberglass, or other material except concrete.
Companies in the multi-billion dollar hard surface floor coverings industry supply flooring primarily for residential homes, which accounted for most of the market. Coverings used in apartment buildings represented a small percentage of industry sales.
This category covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing miscellaneous fabricated products, including beauty shop and barber shop equipment; hair work; tobacco pipes and cigarette holders; coin-operated amusement machines; matches; candles; lamp shades; feathers; artificial trees and flowers made from all materials, except glass; dressed and dyed furs; umbrellas, parasols, and canes; and other articles, not elsewhere classified.