NEW YORK (Reuters) - Whirlpool Corp. (WHR.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the world's largest appliance maker, expects "very small and moderate growth" in appliance demand in the second half of the year, Chairman and Chief Executive Jeff Fettig said on Wednesday at the Reuters Consumer and Retail Summit.
"We think the worst is behind us," Fettig said, adding that he thinks consumer spending is showing signs of improving despite softness in the U.S. housing market.
Fettig also said, "we'll be a $20 billion business this year." For 2006, Whirlpool had sales of $18.1 billion, helped in part by the acquisition of Maytag.
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