April Brings Continuous Growth In Home Audio Sales

Home CD Equipment Sales Up 46 Percent

14-Jun-00

According to eBrain Market Research, a service of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), April audio factory-to-dealer sales shot up by 13 percent to $611 million, representing a year-to-date increase of 10 percent. Audio revenues in all categories except aftermarket autosound experienced double digit growth in both monthly and year-to-date sales. Aftermarket autosound remained steady, keeping pace with its record-breaking sales in 1999. Revenue from portable audio sales grew an amazing 24 percent during April, reaching a total of $172 million. Almost every subcategory in this sector leaped in growth during the month. Portable CD products accounted for nearly two-thirds of all revenue in portable audio during April with a 26 percent increase. The year-to-date total for portable audio is up 19 percent over 1999 for a total of $625 million. Sales dollars from separate components grew 12 percent to $112 million in April. The largest growth areas for the month were home CD equipment, flourishing at 46 percent, and home speakers, growing to 13 percent. Home audio CD-R units are a major contributor to the growth of CD equipment, generating $13.7 million in sales during April alone. For the year thus far, 12 percent of all home CD units sold are CD-R units, accounting for almost 30 percent of total home CD unit revenue. ""The increased sales of these audio products is a result of the value consumers place on the flexibility and quality of digital recording. It truly supports our premise that the Digital Age and the products it brings enhance the workstyle and lifestyle of the consumer,"" said Gary Shapiro, CEA President and CEO. "" It also reaffirms the need to balance copyright protection with the need to preserve reasonable and established consumer recording practices.""Audio system sales grew 23 percent to 144 million in April. Year-to-date figures put this category 11 percent ahead of this same period last year. Within the sector, home theatre-in-a-box revenues have reached $76 million so far this year - up 72 percent over the first four months of 1999.CEA, a sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), represents more than 600 U.S. 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, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.