Any study of domestic electrical appliances raises practical problems of definition and coverage. There is a definitional inconsistency between international trade statistics and the United Kingdom Census of Production. The Census is based upon establishments and consequently obscured one feature of the industry: that a number of firms are concerned also with the manufacture of wide ranges of products outside the domestic electrical appliances field. Over the period under review 1958-66, and particularly during the later years, United Kingdom producers of domestic electrical appliances have faced increasing competition both on the home and export markets. Over the period 1958-62, imports of most appliances reflected very closely the rise and fall of the business cycle. In general, domestic electrical appliances sold on the home market are not suitable for overseas without significant design modifications, particularly in European and American markets. An apparently unsatisfactory export performance in domestic appliances may reflect a deliberate switch of emphasis to other more profitable products.