Buying Power of African American Women

According to today's Clarion-Ledger out of Mississippi, African American women are an economic force to be reckoned with, often more than women in general. It's not just a local source coming to that conclusion either. Sources cited for the article include: Consumer Expenditures 2004; World Of Wonder II: How We Define Success, 2005; Roper NOP World Health & Beauty Aids Study, May 2005; AC Nielsen Homescan, 2005; 2005 Fall, MRI Buying Styles; www.essence.com

The Clarion-Ledger reports the following findings:

# African-American women make up 12 percent of the U.S. population and account for 21 percent of all hair-care purchases.

# In 2004, African-American women spent $817 million on products in 34 beauty-related categories.

# Forty-three percent of African-American women buy products that enhance their natural beauty, compared to 20 percent of women in the general market.

# 61 percent of African-American women prefer products that are labeled all-natural, compared to 47 percent of general market women.

# 92 percent of African-American women use health and beauty products to assert their individuality, compared to 56 percent of general market women.

# 42 percent of African-American women will pay extra for products that conform to their image, compared to 31 percent of general market women.

# African-American women are four times more likely to decide which health/beauty products to buy based on packaging, compared to general market women.

To view the Clarion Ledge article, go to: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070222/FEAT05/702220302/1023