The bedding industry posted modest gains in May, with units rising 1.3% while the dollar value of wholesale bedding shipments increased 2.0%.

The International Sleep Products Assn.'s May Bedding Barometer report shows that overall industry performance this year is essentially flat. Units are up 0.2% for the January through May period, but the dollar value of bedding shipments in that same period is down 0.1%.

The figures reflect the performance of 16 bedding companies who account for a majority of industry shipments.

In May, the average unit price increased 0.7%, to $219.12. For the first five months of the year, however, it is down 0.3%, to $213.93.

The report showed a significant decline in the dollar value of foundations in May, down 8.8%, and in the January through May period, down 8.4%. The dollar value of mattresses was up 4.5% in May and 1.9% in the first five months of the year.

The Bedding Barometer reports reflect the performance of producers who last year generated 70% of total industry units and about 79% of the wholesale revenue of the full market.

But ISPA cautions that the Bedding Barometer reports may not necessarily reflect the performance of the entire industry for reasons such as market share changes or distribution shifts.