ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Mattress unit shipments slipped 2% in October compared with the same month a year earlier as the dollar value of bedding shipments dropped 2.8%, the International Sleep Products Assn. reported.

That is a significant turnaround from September, when bedding units were up 4.2% and the dollar value of bedding shipments was up 4.7% from September 2009, according to ISPA's sample of leading bedding producers.

But the latest sales report still shows the bedding industry well ahead of last year's lackluster showing. Through October, bedding units are up 7.6% and the dollar value of bedding shipments is up 7%.

The average unit price dropped 0.8% in October to $202.70, according to the ISPA sample. For the first 10 months the average unit price is down 0.5%, to $195.19.

The monthly Bedding Barometer reports reflect the performance of 20 bedding producers that generate about 64% of total units and about 73% of the total wholesale dollar volume, according to ISPA.

The industry is seeing a sharp division this year in the performance of the innerspring and specialty sleep sectors, according to ISPA reports.

Through the first three quarters of the year, the innerspring mattress segment posted an 8.3% gain in units, while the specialty mattress segment was up 33.1%. In dollars, innerspring mattresses are up 2.7% in the first nine months, compared to a 29.5% gain for specialty mattresses.

ISPA presents breakouts on specialty sleep versus innerspring performance on a quarterly basis.