Audio Sales Surpass $1 Billion In Only Two Months

19-Apr-00

Revenues from factory shipments of audio products to dealers this February increased by eight percent over last February to a total of $542 million, according to figures released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The fantastic sales in February spurred the year-to-date total for audio sales to more than $1 billion; a six percent increase over the first two months of 1999.The portable audio sector posted the largest increase in the month, climbing 16 percent to revenues of $135 million. Contributing to the success in the sector were sales of digital portable audio products, such as headset CD players and CD boomboxes, which grew by 39 percent and 15 percent, respectively. Together, these two products comprised more than $80 million of the $135 million total portable audio earnings in the month. In the year-to-date figures, portable audio sales are up by six percent over 1999.Sales of audio systems this February grew by 11 percent over the first two months of last year, to $118 million. The growth in systems was fueled by sales of compact systems, which typically comprise close to 80 percent of the sector. Sales of compact systems grew by 15 percent in the month, to a total of $94 million. Also contributing to the growth in systems were sales of home-theatre-in-a-box products, which have thrived so far this year. Home-theatre-in-a-box revenues are currently 40 percent ahead of their total during the first two months of 1999.The current leading sector of the audio market, aftermarket autosound, posted its twentieth consecutive month of growth in February, with revenues of nearly $177 million. The aftermarket autosound sector is currently three percent ahead of 1999 in the year-to-date total, with revenues of close to $315 million.Rounding out the stellar sales in February are home audio separates. The separates sector grew by seven percent over last February, to revenues of $118 million. Spurring the growth in the sector were sales of emerging CD-R products, whose strong introductory sales have helped to grow the total home CD equipment subcategory by 30 percent over last February. In the year-to-date figures, home CD equipment revenues have reached nearly $49 million, an increase of 17 percent over the first two months of 1999; sales of CD-R products comprised nearly 20 percent of this figure.CEA is a sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). CEA represents more than 600 US companies involved in the development, manufacturing and distribution of audio, video, mobile electronics, communications, information technology, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services, that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, these companies account for more than $60 billion in annual sales.CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Your Source for Workstyle and Lifestyle Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, product promotion, engineering standards development, market research and governmental and legal affairs support.

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