The mattress industry has been going through a significant change in the last few years. In part, this change has been driven by the changing demographic of the mattress customer. As baby boomers have been getting older, they are looking at ways to keep themselves feeling younger and more energetic. This trend has been driving other industries as well, notably the weight loss and plastic surgery industries. But over the last few years there has been a significant growth in the sleep industry, and the mattress industry as a whole has shifted significantly to try to give a more luxurious sleep experience.

What has this meant to you, the consumer? Well, the most apparent change has been the increasing thickness of a mattress. Where mattresses used to average 6 to 8 inches, they now routinely run 11 inches and can be 13 - 15 inches and even higher.

Turning these mammoth beds can be quite an undertaking, and the industry is producing more and more mattresses that are made to be used just on one side. Another reason for this change to non-flip mattresses has been the growing use of specialty products in mattresses -- memory foams, latex, and other specialty comfort products. They are so expensive and dense compared to basic foams and other cushioning material that they are just used as topper layers -- so no flipping necessary.

Another trend has been toward more expensive mattresses. This was really spearheaded by companies like Tempur-Pedic®; which showed that there was a growing market for high-end bedding. Others have followed like Select Comfort and now latex providers (like Sealy), and now it is relatively easy to find beds $1000 and up (and even $2000 and up) at your local bedding retailer. And there is the ultra high-end bedding market as well (companies like Hastens) whose beds go for $5000 and up (their latest trending toward $50,000).

Finally, there has been a fair amount of growth lately in the adjustable bedding area. Where this used to be just a market to the old and infirm, now manufacturers see a huge area of growth with the aging boomer market. It seems every manufacturer is coming out with their line of adjustable beds, and the prices start in the $1000 range and can go out of site (with one over $50,000).

In this section, I will look a bit at each of these areas to give you an idea where the bedding industry is going and what you might want to be on the look out for if you want the most cutting edge sleep experience possible.

Industry Trend Spotlight Articles

• The Growth of Specialty Bedding
• Adjustable Beds - The Hottest Trend in The Mattress Industry
• Mattress Sales Declining in 2008
• Green / Eco Trend in Mattresses