Holiday Sales Predictions, New Year Trends

The economy is hurting but CE sales will remain relatively healthy compared to other industries, with a 3.5 Percent increase expected during the fourth quarter, roughly half of last year’s growth.

"It will be bad across the board, except for CE products," Shawn DuBravac, a Consumer Electronics Association economist, said during a presentation of the 15th annual CE Holiday Purchase Pattern Study at the CEA Industry Forum here in Las Vegas.

The National Retail Federation recently estimated that Q4 sales throughout the general retail industry grow only 1.9 percent, one of the lowest increases recorded since the NRF survey began in 2002. CE retail sales will fare slightly better, with such segments as A/V growing at 3.9 percent, accessories at 4.6 percent and video games at 5.6 percent.