Translations:BSH Chronologie 1979-1983: Nationales Wachstum/3/en
An article appeared in the German magazine "Der Spiegel" in 1982, entitled: "Die Küche ist voll. Die Hausgeräte-Hersteller stecken in einer schweren Flaute," which roughly translates as "The kitchen is full. Home appliance manufacturers experiencing serious downturn."[1] The negative effects of the second oil crisis from 1979/1980 were being clearly felt at the start of the 1980s.[2] 1982 in particular was a very difficult year for the German economy: High unemployment, rising energy prices and a decline in real income also impacted the home appliance industry.[3] High interest rates and the slow pace of housing construction were the final straw, the home appliance boom of the early years was definitely over.[4] Refrigerators, washing machines and vacuum cleaners were already standard appliances in more than 90 percent of all Federal German households in 1982, leaving only the meager business with replacement units. Added to this, excess capacities existed in production: according to estimates, 15 to 20 percent more food processors were manufactured than sold in Europe at the beginning of the 1980s.
- ↑ "Die Küche ist voll", in: Der Spiegel 31/1982, page 61.
- ↑ BSH Corporate Archives, A01-0001, Business Report 1980, page 4. Business Report 1981, page 4.
- ↑ "Die Küche ist voll", in: Der Spiegel 31/1982, page 61; Dieter Speermann: Deutschland – Die Dritte Industrielle Revolution, München 2010, page 80.
- ↑ "Ja, wenn wir ein Saftladen wären", in: Der Spiegel 34/1982, page 27.