CEA Expects More Holiday Cheer By Mark Fleischmann November 2, 2009 — Holiday gift sales of consumer electronics are expected to rise by eight percent in the fourth quarter of this year, according to figures from the Consumer Electronics Association. This means CE sales will be stronger than overall holiday spending, at just four percent.

CEA's 16th Annual CE Holiday Sales Forecast says four out of five adults will buy a gizmo, the largest percentage in the survey's history. They will spend an average of $222. CE stuff comprises four of the top ten wish-list items, including computers, video games, TVs, and digital cameras. Other desirables include Blu-ray players, ebook readers, and netbook PCs.

Promotions are expected to swell the number of consumers in stores, though on the whole, consumers have spent less time in CE stores recently. Mass merchants will get the most business at 67 percent, CE stores will get 60 percent, and online merchants will get 41 percent. This certainly indicates some overlap.

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