Video Games, Laptops and Accessories Set Pace for a $48 Billion Fourth Quarter
Consumer electronics products dominate the holiday wish lists of adults and teens and will generate $48.1 billion in fourth quarter sales, according to research from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). Results from the 14th Annual CE Holiday Purchase Patterns study were presented today at CEA’s Industry Forum, a four-day conference designed to inform, connect and educate CE professionals, industry analysts and the media on the latest CE trends and technologies.
“Consumer electronics will be the shining star of holiday retail sales, accounting for 22 percent of all gifts given,” said CEA Economist Shawn DuBravac. “Two of the top 5 items on adults’ holiday wish lists are consumer electronics, and four of the top 5 items on the teen list are CE devices, so today’s hottest technologies will be on every holiday shopper’s mind. Holiday sales will be particularly jolly for the video game category (hardware and software), laptop computers and the endless array of accessories available for your favorite product.”
The top five wish list items for all adult survey respondents: computers, peace and happiness, big screen TV, clothes and money. Notably, the big screen TV moved up in the 2007 survey to number three from 11th in 2006. The teen list remained unchanged: clothes, MP3 player, video games, computer and cell phone.
“While overall holiday spending will increase, we found consumers are cutting back on decorations, home purchases and travel, but not gifts, especially electronics. The average CE gift giver will spend $358 on those gifts this season,” said DuBravac.
CEA forecasts $22.1 billion will be spent on holiday CE gifts this year, which represents 46 percent of total fourth quarter revenue for consumer electronics. Total fourth quarter sales will reach $48.1 billion – a 7 percent increase from $44.8 billion in 2006.
The survey also tracked specific consumer electronics consumers hope to receive. The top five CE gifts adults wish for are MP3 players, notebook/laptops, video game systems, digital cameras and any type of TV. For teens, MP3 players, digital cameras, notebook/laptops, computers and any type of TV round out the top five items on their wish list.
Leading the “planned gift” list this year – a list of the CE products respondents intend to purchase for someone else — are video game systems, additional memory for cameras, MP3 players, DVD players and digital cameras.
“Both lists demonstrate strong industry trends; consumers want to connect with others, create additional content, be more flexible and enhance the products they already have,” said DuBravac. “Many households today desire greater portability and are replacing desktops with laptops. These laptops can do more than they could a few years ago, facilitating content creation. Video games and other devices are incorporating social networking applications and user interfaces, connecting like-minded consumers around the world. And accessories are enhancing all of these products, making the user experience better than ever.”
For more information on how to purchase technology for the holidays, visit http://www.digitaltips.org, CEA’s consumer based web guide to all things CE. Currently posted online are modules for audio, digital imaging, digital televisions and MP3 players, all hot holiday items this season.
14th Annual CE Holiday Purchase Patterns (October 2007) was fielded in late September 2007. It was designed and formulated by CEA Market Research, the most comprehensive source of sales data, forecasts, consumer research and historical trends for the consumer electronics industry. Please cite any information to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA ). The complete study will be available free to CEA member companies. Non-members may purchase the study for $499 at http://www.ebrain.org.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $148 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,100 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at http://www.CE.org
