Yo-Yos On The Way Up

By Virginia Prescott on Thursday, July 30, 2009.

As unemployment and foreclosure numbers climb, toy sales are slumping. Video game sales dipped below one billion dollars last month for the first time since 2007. Hasbro, maker of Nerf and G.I. Joe action figures, saw profits fall by 47 percent in the first quarter of the year.

But one toy has seen more ups than downs of late: the yo-yo. Sales of Duncan yo-yos have increased by 23 percent since 2008.

For more on the resurgence of the yo-yo, we were joined by Pat Cuartero. He left a high-powered job with Merrill Lynch to become a professional yo-yo'er and is now president and CEO of YoYo Nation.

The Wall Street Journal: The Yo-Yo Has Had Ups and Downs, But It's Far From End of Its String

(Photo by John Huber via Flickr/Creative Commons)

Add new comment

That arm looks familiar...

Probably because it's MINE. =P

Submitted by John Huber on Thu, 07/30/2009 - 11:26.

Hey John - yup! It's your arm...nice!

Thanks to NHPR for having me on the show and talking about yo-yos and yoyonation.com!!

-Pat

Submitted by Pat Cuartero on Thu, 07/30/2009 - 16:22.

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Word of Mouth is all about what's new. Online and on-air, the show looks at our fascinating and ever-changing world, and puts the latest ideas under a microscope. Word of Mouth investigates everything from science and technology, to health and the environment, to new trends in popular culture. The show airs Monday through Thursday at noon and is hosted by Virginia Prescott.