Port Washington, N.Y., February 28, 2023 – Following year over year sales revenue and unit sales gains in 2021, the U.S. office supplies industry faced increasing economic headwinds, including double-digit average sales price (ASP) increases across a number of categories. In 2022, U.S. office supplies industry sales (excluding janitorial and breakroom sales) fell 2% year over year but remained 12% ahead of 2019, according to The NPD Group. Unit sales were down 10% year over year and 12% when compared to 2019 sales.
Sales revenue during the 2022 back-to-school season (July through September) remained flat, compared to 2021, while sales in 2021 were 13% higher than 2020. Back-to-school season gains were driven by some staple categories, including presentation and reference products, which increased 3%, and office paper, which rose 3%. Many writing instrument categories saw gains with correction leading the way up 11% year over year, as did office essentials categories with pins and tacks experiencing 14% growth.
ASPs continued to grow in 2022, growing 9% overall and by double digits in many categories. However, NPD’s Future of Office Supplies forecast anticipates ASPs will begin to stabilize in 2023, along with an increase in expected promotional activity. While this will contribute to the 1% year over year industry revenue decline expected this year, it will also impact unit sales, which are forecasted to remain flat in the year ahead, an improvement from declines in 2022. Anticipated areas of unit sales growth in 2023 are writing instruments, coloring and art, and presentation and reference.
“The office supplies industry is continuing to find new ways to fit consumers’ needs especially as they returned to store shelves and continued to navigate new workplace dynamics,” said Tia Frapolli, president of NPD’s Office Supplies practice. “Congratulations to 2022’s top performers and best of luck to all as we continue into 2023.”
2022 Top Performers
Below are the top performing brands of 2022 across key office supplies categories based on U.S. growth in market share over the previous year, according to NPD’s Retail Tracking Service.
Top U.S. Market Share Increase in 2022
| Category | Brand |
| Coloring & Art | Crayola |
| Dated Products | PlanAhead |
| Office Paper | Five Star |
| Specialty Tape | Duck |
| Writing Instruments | BIC |
Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service/Annual 2022 vs. Annual 2021
