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IHS Technology Survey Forecasts Big Year for U.S. Holiday Consumer Electronics Purchases
[November 21, 2014]

IHS Technology Survey Forecasts Big Year for U.S. Holiday Consumer Electronics Purchases


ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --(Business Wire)--

IHS (News - Alert) Inc. (NYSE: IHS), a leading global source of critical information and insight, today announced that seven out of 10 U.S. consumers (68 percent) plan to buy consumer electronics (CE) during the 2014 holiday season. According to the "U.S. Holiday CE Consumer Survey," more than one third of respondents (37 percent) plan to make at least one electronics purchase on Black Friday, 32 percent plan to purchase online during Cyber Monday (News - Alert), and 50 percent expect to buy electronics some other time in November or December.

"While the fourth quarter is always the most dynamic in terms of sales, mostly due to holiday spending, this year consumer confidence is very high," said Veronica Gonzalez-Thayer, senior analyst for consumer electronics at IHS Technology. "Nearly half of respondents indicated a willingness to spend more than $500 on electronics for the holidays."

U.S. consumers intending to buy electronics products during the holidays plan to spend an average of $769. "Additionally, we're seeing a shift in where consumers choose to spend money on CE devices during the holidays," Gonzalez-Thayer said. While just 15 percent of consumers plan to make their CE purchases only online, she said, the same percentage report they would purchase only in a brick-and-mortar store. However, nearly two thirds (67 percent) of consumers plan to purchase CE products both online and in-store.

Amazon leads other retailers when it comes to planned holiday CE purchases this year, with 76 percent of survey respondents indicating they will purchase from the online retailer, followed by Walmart (73 percent), Best Buy (News - Alert) (66 percent), and Target (63 percent).



TVs are especially prominent on holiday CE wish lists, with 34 percent of consumers planning to purchase at least one set during the holidays. Nearly one quarter (23 percent) of survey respondents expect to purchase a TV with a screen size of 50 inches to 59 inches, while 22 percent expect to purchase a TV with a screen size of 40 inches to 45 inches. When it comes to brands, 66 percent of consumers plan to purchase a Samsung (News - Alert), Vizio, Sony or LG TV. However, IHS expects that heavy price discounts and other promotions will change this scenario in favor of low-tier brands.

The TV features that consumers want most, and are willing to pay more for, include smart TVs (34 percent) and 4K/UHD TVs (29 percent). Said Gonzalez-Thayer, "the consumer preference for premium features is good news for TV manufacturers, who are trying to leverage on these to increase profits and augment demand."


The "U.S. Holiday CE Consumer Survey" from IHS is based on a survey with 800 respondents conducted the week prior to Thanksgiving 2014. For more information and further insights about consumer electronics, visit technology.ihs.com.

About IHS (www.ihs.com)

IHS (NYSE: IHS) is the leading source of information, insight and analytics in critical areas that shape today's business landscape. Businesses and governments in more than 165 countries around the globe rely on the comprehensive content, expert independent analysis and flexible delivery methods of IHS to make high-impact decisions and develop strategies with speed and confidence. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employs more than 8,000 people in 31 countries around the world.

IHS is a registered trademark of IHS Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. © 2014 IHS Inc. All rights reserved.


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