US Consumer Safety Agency Recalls 5.5 Million Window Shades

   DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 
 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a wide recall Wednesday of about 5.5 million roll-up window shades sold by such retailers as IKEA International AS, Williams-Sonoma Inc. (WSM) and Target Corp. (TGT) because of strangulation risks and deaths.

Of six separate recalls, the largest was one urging consumers to stop using 4.2 million roll-up blinds imported by Lewis Hyman Inc. after two infant boys were strangled in the blinds' lift cord. The shades were sold exclusively at Target stores and on its Web site.

Another 763,000 roman shades imported from China and sold by Target were recalled because of a risk of strangulation.

The CPSC also recalled 120,000 roman blinds distributed by Ikea and 85,000 roman shades sold by Williams-Sonoma's Pottery Barn Kids after some near strangulations.

The CSPC also recalled some blinds made by Vertical Land Inc. and Virginia Iron and Metal Co.

Target shares were recently up slightly at $46.61. Williams-Sonoma rallied 13% to 17.54 after reporting a surprise profit for the latest quarter and boosting expectations for this quarter.

-By Joan E. Solsman, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2291; [e-mail]