The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) estimates that revenues for the consumer electronics (CE) industry are projected to grow nearly three percent, reaching a new record-high of $209.6 billion for 2013 for the U.S. market. This compares with 2012 sales of $204 billion, which was up five percent from 2011.
Mobile connected devices continue to drive industry growth:
- Tablet computing will continue double-digit growth in 2013. Unit sales of tablets are projected to reach 116 million this year, up 45 percent from 2012, when 80 million tablets were sold to dealers. Industry revenues for tablets are expected to surpass $37 billion this year, up from $31 billion in 2012.
- Smartphones continue to be the primary revenue driver for the industry with growth projected to continue in 2013. Unit sales of smartphones are projected to reach 130 million this year, up from 111 million in 2012. Smartphone shipment revenues are expected to surpass $37 billion in 2013, up from $33 billion in 2012
- Laptop/notebook computer sales will continue to rise as 26 million units are projected to be sold in 2013 accounting for $17 billion in revenue.
“CEA’s forecast once again confirms that CE products play an increasingly indispensable role in consumers’ lives,” said Steve Koenig, CEA’s director of industry analysis. “Consumer adoption of smartphones and tablets continues to expand briskly, as mobile connected devices take center stage in today’s connected, digital lifestyle.”
The U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecast 2008-2013 (January 2013) is published twice a year, in January and July.
CEA also announced that this week’s 2013 International CES show in Las Vegas attracted more than 3,250 exhibitors across 1.9 million net square feet of exhibit space, breaking both space and exhibitor records that were set last year.