Friday, February 10, 2012

A Mixed Holiday High-Tech Prediction

October 27, 2008

As economic woes persist in the United States and around the world, the Consumer Electronics Association last week released a prediction that sales of its industry's products will grow 3.5 percent in the fourth quarter as compared to last year. The bad news is that increase is only half what was seen in 2007. Still, consumer electronics remain "must have" items for many American shoppers and comprise about 40 percent of the items on adults' holiday wish lists.

CEA's holiday trends survey indicated that 87 percent of consumers feel that the U.S. economy is worse then it was at this time last year. About 64 percent of consumers expect to spend money on gifts this year, compared to 74 percent in 2007, the trade group said, noting that a decline in overall spending for the holiday season is expected. That said, the percentage of the U.S. family’s gift budget in 2007 allocated to electronics was 22 percent and in 2008, it jumped to 28 percent. GPS and in-car video, mobile phones and audio/video products are expected to be top sellers.

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Juliana Gruenwald

Tech Writer

E-Mail: jgruenwald@nationaljournal.com.


Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.


Josh Smith

Tech Reporter

E-Mail: joshsmith@nationaljournal.com.


Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.