Video Sales Set Records During February 2000
Thoughts that the relatively soft results for video hardware sales to dealers in January 2000 signaled a fading of the industry's decade-long sales boom were dispelled by CEA's release of figures for February 2000. The report showed new sales records for the month, as well as new annualized selling-rate highs, set by all tracked products except direct-view color, which hit a six-year high. On the milestone front, February 2000 saw the sale of the 500 millionth direct-view color TV (excluding TV/ VCR combos) and the 6 millionth DVD-Video player. As for direct-view colorís February 2000 results, sales for the month, at 1.58 million, were up 7.5 percent from last year. The sales level was the highest for any February since the 1.64 million of 1994 and the third best ever. Two-month sales of 2.94 million were up 3.1 percent. Based on traditional selling patterns, sales for both February 2000 and the yearís first two months were at an annualized selling rate of 23.8 million, also a six-year high, and the second best ever. Sales of TV/VCRs jumped 19.5 percent in February 2000 to 297,500, for a two-month total of 511,900, up 6.4 percent. The monthís selling rate was an all-time high 5.14 million, which lifted the cumulative running rate to 4.7 million. Projection TV had sales of 104,700 for the month and a January-February 2000 total of 196,900, each up a sharp 26.8 percent. The indicated annualized selling rate in February was a record 1.78 million, and the two-month rate stood a 1.6 million. VCR deck sales, which like the Energizer bunny just keep on going, posted a 17.6 percent February increase to 1.39 million, for a two-month total of 2.51 million, up 7.7 percent. The monthís results produced a selling rate of 24.4 million, and the two-month rate came in at 23.1 million. Camcorders joined in the sales surge, with a 24.2 percent February 2000 rise to 300,900. Sales for the first two months, at 597,600, were up 27.7 percent. The indicated selling rate for that period was a steep 6.1 million, which leveraged the two-month rate up to 5.8 million. Those waiting for the months of triple-plus sales increases for DVD to come to an end still have more time to wait. February 2000 sales climbed 266.6 percent to 401,000, to put the total for the first two months at 711,100, up 228.2 percent. Using VCR sales patterns as a guide indicates that DVD sales were at a solid 7.1 million annualized rate for both February and the yearís first two months. Source: TWICE