Audio Sales Continue To Rise In The New Year: System And Portable Audio Experience Healthy Increases In January

29-Mar-01

Total audio revenues of manufacturer-to-dealer sales grew by three percent in January, reaching $503.4 million, according to figures released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). Systems and portable audio were responsible for the overall increase, posting significant gains.Audio system sales grew by 28 percent to more than $140 million for the month, with home theatre-in-a-box standing as the subcategory behind the growth, racking up $50 million in sales during January 2001. Portable audio also showed increases of seven percent with $133 million from unit sales. Within this category, headset portable CD players had a phenomenal month, rising 53 percent to $48 million from unit sales.Though audio separates showed some decreases for January, CD-R audio-based hardware (found in audio separates) is thriving with four times the dollar volume of January 2000, putting total home CD sales up four percent at $24 million.""With consumer interest in CD-R continuing to grow at a rapid pace, it becomes increasingly important to preserve consumers' traditional and customary home recording rights,"" said CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro. ""CEA will continue to fight to strike the critical balance between intellectual property, home recording and fair use rights so we can help support the growth of CD-R and other digital audio recording and distribution products.""Overall, gains in both audio systems and portable audio accounted for the total growth in audio sales during January.Source: CEA