Consumer electronics products dominate the holiday wish lists of adults and teens and will generate $48 billion in fourth quarter sales, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.
According to its “14th Annual CE Holiday Purchase Patterns” study, the top wish list items for adult respondents are computers, peace and happiness, big-screen TV, clothes and money. (No word on whether computers or TVs would suffice to fulfill the peace and happiness requirement.)
Notably, big-screen TV moved up in the 2007 survey to third from 11th the year before.
The wish list from teens remains 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 CEA Economist Shawn 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.