This is a front-page article from today's (7/17/97) Wall Street Journal:

"A Piano Crescendo Lifts Sales Of New And Restored Instruments"

"After years of flat sales, new-piano sales show signs of rising 7% so far
this year, says Music Trades, an Englewood, N. J., publication. Retailers and
restorers say a solid economy spurs purchases by parents, baby boomers with
time and money on their untrained hands, investors and folks who just like
the look of a gleaming baby grand. Steinway, Inc., Long Island City, NY.,
says shipments of grands rose 11% last year to the highest level since 1942.
And business is "up very nicely this year," President Bruce Stevens says. It
also expands its restorations."

"Cooper Music Inc., Atlanta, sees "a big resurgence" in adult learners.
Piedmont Piano Co., Oakland Calif., says sales are up as much as 25% this
year; about a third are used pianos. R. Kassman purveyor of Fine Pianos in
San Francisco, which specializes in restored European pianos, says its sales
are up more than 11%, partly because pianos are good investments. Leopold
Holder of New York Piano center says sales of restorations have risen 15% to
20% since 1995. A new Steinway grand retails for US$29,000 to $76,000; a
restored one sells for 60% to 80% of that, Steinway says."

"Some dissonance: Restored and digital-pianos cut into new-piano sales."

- Karl Ellison,   Ashland Massachusetts