CEA Holiday Forecast Illustrates Need For Additional Spectrum
Most In-Demand Gifts Will Be Wireless
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The most wanted gifts this holiday will be wirelessly connected products, fueling consumer demand for devices that need additional spectrum for wireless broadband. The Consumer Electronics Association’s (CEA)® 18th Annual CE Holiday Purchase Patterns Study shows tablet computers, notebook/laptop computers and e-Readers will be the most popular gifts this year.
Consumer electronics (CE) will account for one-third of all holiday spending this year. Consumers plan to spend, on average, $246 on electronics gifts, an increase of six percent from last year and the highest level since CEA began tracking holiday spending. Computing products will lead the way, with tablets, notebook/laptops and e-Readers, all wirelessly connected devices, in the top five of adults holiday electronics wish list. Tablets and notebooks/laptops trail only clothes on adults overall holiday wish list. In 2011, CEA estimates manufacturers in the U.S. will ship more than 72 million devices with wireless broadband capability.
“The products consumers want most this holiday all require spectrum to deliver Internet content,” said Julie Kearney, CEA’s vice president of regulatory affairs. “Congress must pass legislation to free up much needed spectrum so consumers can use these innovative technologies without limitations this holiday.”
The rapid penetration of tablets, e-readers and smartphones and the popularity of these devices this holiday will also lead consumers to give content and services as gifts this year. One in four consumers plan to give gift cards which can be used for digital music purchases, one in five for electronic book purchases (up seven percent from last year), 16 percent for app purchases, 14 percent for online gaming purchases and 13 percent for digital movie or TV show purchases. Movie rental/streaming subscriptions will also be the most gifted subscription services with 13 percent of U.S. adults planning to give them.
“The facts are overwhelming. Broadcasters are sitting on broad swaths of underutilized spectrum despite the demand for mobile connected devices surging, as this holiday season demonstrates,” said Kearney. “Auctions are a win-win for consumers, broadcasters and the U.S. government. Consumers will get much needed and more reliable spectrum for their wireless devices, tens of thousands of new jobs will be created and billions of dollars will be raised to help cut the federal deficit.”
CEA sent a letter to Congress’s Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction on September 13, laying out the overwhelming case for incentive spectrum auctions.
About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $190 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org, www.DeclareInnovation.com and through social media: https://www.facebook.com/#!/CEAfeed, http://twitter.com/ceafeed, http://blog.ce.org/.
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November 18, 2011, New York, NY
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January 10-13, 2012, Las Vegas, NV
CONTACT:
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
Steve Kidera, 703-907-4358
skidera@CE.org
www.CE.org
or
Megan Pollock, 703-907-7668
mpollock@CE.org
KEYWORDS: United States North America Virginia
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Consumer Electronics Mobile/Wireless Retail Other Retail
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