Plus size clothing is $32 bln industry

American women have gotten larger, and plus-size clothing manufacturers have stepped up marketing efforts in the last five years. According to Mintel, the plus-size clothing market reached close to $32 bln in 2004. In 5 years, the segment has posted close to 50% revenue growth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited that over 62% of women were like to be overweight or obese between 1999 and 2002, and this trend is being reflected in the sharp sales increase in this clothing category.