Boston, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/15/2013 -- BMI View: We project that US consumer electronics spending will grow by about 5% in US dollar terms in 2013, with growth areas including Ultra-high HD TV sets, smartphones, Windows 8 tablets, ultrabooks, and smart TV sets, but question marks remain about the sustainability of consumption in the absence of strong wage growth.

Smartphone sales increased by around 9% in H112 and surveys indicate increasing smartphone ownership among lower-means households, with annual incomes of US$35,000 or below. Surveys suggest returning consumer confidence, but vendors will largely rely on product innovation such as smart TV sets to drive growth. Falling average prices in many product categories will place revenue and margins under pressure.

Headline Expenditure ProjectionsComputer hardware sales: US$149bn in 2012 to US$154bn in 2013, +3.4% in US dollar terms. Forecast in US dollar terms unchanged but Windows 8 based tablets and notebooks could provide growth areas in 2013.

View Full Report Details and Table of Contents

AV sales: US$70bn in 2012 to US$75bn in 2013, +7% in US dollar terms. Forecast in US dollar terms upwardly revised following evidence that U.S. consumers are willing to pay more for features such as 3D and large-screens.

Handset sales: US$32bn in 2012 to US$35bn in 2013, +7% in US dollar terms. Forecast in US dollar terms downwardly revised but Android phones continue to dominate the growing smartphone segment.

Risk/Reward Rating:The USA's score was an unchanged 76.4 out of 100.0, which gave it first place in our latest Americas CE RRR table. The country ranked first in its region for all component scores including Market, Country Structure, and Country and Market Risk. Despite its current economic challenges, BMI expects the US to retain its significance as the world's largest and most influential consumer electronics market.

Key Trends & Developments

The average price of a flat-screen TV set in the US market rose slightly in Q212, reversing a longestablished trend, and indicating that consumers are willing to pay more for features such as web browsers and 3D. Mature markets in many AV segments mean growth will rely to a large extent on new technologies and features to drive sales of smartphones, as well as LED, internet-enabled and 3D TV sets.

US PC sales were forecast to report single-digit growth in 2012, after a further annualised contraction in Q212. In H112, sales of ultrabooks fell far short of Intel's prediction that Ultrabooks would comprise 40% of US notebook sales by the end of 2012. Migrations to Windows 8-based devices could provide an impetus to PC upgrades in 2013, although sales of notebooks will be constrained by the growing preference for alternative connectivity devices such as tablets and smartphones.

About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. Representing the world's top research publishers and analysts, we provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available. Our unbiased, expert staff will help you find the right research to fit your requirements and your budget. For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156.

Browse all Consumer Goods research reports at Fast Market Research

You may also be interested in these related reports:

- Consumer Electronics: Global Industry Guide
- Consumer Electronics - Global Group of Eight (G8) Industry Guide
- Consumer Electronics - North America (NAFTA) Industry Guide
- Consumer Electronics in the G20 to 2015: Market Guide
- United Arab Emirates Consumer Electronics Report Q1 2013
- Consumer Electronics in the G8 to 2015: Market Guide
- Consumer Trends in the Oral Hygiene Market in the US
- India Consumer Electronics Report Q1 2013
- Consumer Electronics in the United States
- Consumer Trends in the Haircare Market in the US