Retail Store Xmas Consumer Tech Sales Fell 8.1%

Sales of consumer electronics products through brick-and-mortar retail stores fell 8.1% in the 2008 holiday season, according to research firm NPD Group. For the same period, from November 23 through December 27, online sales of technology goods rose 7.1%. But that wasn’t enough to overcome the slower sales in physical stores, netting to an over all decline of 5.7%. NPD said sales were down year-over-year in four of the five holiday shopping weeks, with Christmas week down 24%. Nearly 51% of all consumer electronics sales in retail stores during the holiday period were concentrated in five categories: LCD TVs, which rose 24% in units, and 12% in dollars. Notebook PCs, which rose 13% in units, but were flat in revenue. MP3 Players, which fell 3% in units and 12% in revenue. Digital Cameras, which fell 9% in units and 21% in revenue. Mobile Navigation, which fell 5% in units and 24% in revenue. (link)