Just as the much-anticipated Consumer Electronics Show is scheduled to open in Las Vegas this week, the trade association producing the event is predicting that global sales of electronic devices could top a trillion dollars this year.

According to a report from the AFP, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) said that global purchases of devices – such as mobile phones, computers, TVs and other gadgets – are projected to increase by 10 percent this year to $964 billion.

"We may very well hit the trillion mark," said a bullish Steve Koenig, director of industry analysis for the CEA.

"That number is truly within reach," he told reporters.

The AFP reports that tablet computers, electronic book readers, smartphones and liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs are among the more popular devices this year.

The AFP cites CEA predictions that sales of consumer electronics will increase in 2011:

• 23 percent in Western Europe.
• 15 percent in both North America and China.
• 12 percent in areas of Asia other than Japan or China.
• 10 percent in South America.
• 8 percent in Japan.
• 7 percent in Africa.
• 5 percent in Eastern Europe.
• 4 percent in the Middle East.

Sales of consumer electronics devices increased 13 percent during 2010 to $873 billion, according to the CEA. Consumer electronics devices had dropped 9 percent in 2009.

Many of the hottest electronics devices will be shown at the CES (News - Alert) starting today in the Las Vegas Convention Center. Over four days, the CES may have more than 125,000 attendees and will feature some 2,600 exhibitors.

In a related story, TMCnet’s Jaclyn Allard reports that Sony CEO Howard Stringer was optimistic for the CES and his company during 2011.