[opendtv] News: 2004 Consumer Electronics Sales to Top 2003 Record
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 11:11:25 -0400
2004 Consumer Electronics Sales to Top 2003 Record
September 20, 2004 12:00am
Source: Reed Business Information. All Rights Reserved.
Electronic News: The Consumer Electronics=20
Association (CEA) forecasts 2004 sales to surpass=20
$108 billion, breaking the record mark set in=20
2003, the trade group said today.
According to revised figures released today by=20
the CEA, sales of consumer electronics products=20
exceeded $100 billion in 2003, setting a new=20
record and marking a fourfold increase over the=20
2002 growth rate.
"Consumer demand for digital products continues=20
to drive consumer electronics sales beyond our=20
earlier projections," Gary Shapiro, president and=20
CEO of CEA, said in a statement. "Consumer=20
enthusiasm going into the fourth quarter of 2003=20
further catapulted overall sales.
"Across the board, consumer electronics sales=20
exceeded projections as consumers saw the right=20
prices at the right time. Even as we celebrate=20
record sales in 2003, we expect that 2004 will be=20
an even bigger year as our growth rate continues=20
to climb," Shapiro said.
Almost every product category performed better=20
than anticipated in 2003 by $100 million to $200=20
million, according to the CEA's new figures.=20
Manufacturer-to-dealer sales of PCs and digital=20
televisions (DTV) stood as two of the main=20
categories driving final 2004 figures above CEA's=20
original forecast of $96.3 billion. PCs held=20
strong as the largest single product category=20
with sales exceeding $15 billion, as home=20
information products remained the biggest=20
consumer electronics sector with sales over $38=20
million in 2003.
"Huge numbers of flat panel and rear projection=20
DTV sets were sold last year," Sean Wargo, a CEA=20
senior industry analyst, said in a statement. "In=20
fact, sales of just flat panel TVs topped $2=20
billion, and the numbers will continue to=20
increase in 2004."
Wireless phones also contributed to strong=20
overall sales in 2003. Sales of wireless phones=20
were over $9 billion and they are expected to top=20
$10 billion by the end of 2004, according to=20
Wargo.
Sales of digital products will again take the=20
industry to new heights in 2004, he noted. "MP3=20
and DTV will help drive 2004 sales to a record=20
estimated $108 billion. Total TV revenues (analog=20
and digital combined) are expected to rise 17=20
percent this year to $13.6 billion, marking the=20
biggest invoiced total for TVs in history." .end=20
(paragraph)<<Electronic News -- 09/13/04>>
<< Copyright =A92004 Reed Business Information. All Rights Reserved. >>
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