Tax Refunds to Fuel CE Sales
By Mark Fleischmann March 18, 2008 — On what will you spend your forthcoming federal tax refund? One out of five U.S. households will buy consumer electronics, according to (who else?) the Consumer Electronics Association. That's positive thinking. We like that.

Before President Bush signed the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, CEA had projected wholesale revenues of $172 billion for 2008. That projection, already $10 billion up from last year, is now another $5 billion higher. Way to go, fellow Americans!

The survey by CEA's market research division interviewed a random sample of 1080p adults. Wait, that can't be right. Where is that press release? Oh, it says 1005 adults.

Of those, 53 percent plan a computer purchase, 39 percent have their eyes on a new TV, 23 percent will buy a mobile phone, and one-tenth of one percent will endorse their checks over to "Home Theater News Dept." and mail them to us.

Checks are scheduled to go out between May and August. Refunds will average $600 for individuals, and $1200 for married couples filing jointly, plus $300 per child. So the more children you have, the bigger the plasma you can buy.

"The outlook is bright indeed for our industry," said CEA economist Shawn DuBravac.