At CES, a forecast of growth for 2009
‘Green’ electronics and expanded Web access are among the trends that will do well, a trade group economist says.
Though 2009 looks just as grim as 2008, organizers of the Consumer Electronics Show last week forecast a few rays of sunshine.
The Consumer Electronics Assn. projected growth in organic LED displays, digital book readers, Blu-ray disc players and lightweight laptops called netbooks. Despite a projected 0.3% decline in overall consumer spending in 2009, the trade group said, people will continue to earmark a large chunk of their income for technology.
“Technology’s share of consumer spending compared to other durable goods has never been this high going back to the 1960s,” said Shawn DuBravac, CEA’s chief economist.
That share is expected to grow, he said, thanks to four technology trends unfolding in 2009: environmentally friendly electronics, wireless gadgets that can be used in more places, expanded access to the Internet and newer ways for people to interact with their devices, including voice commands and gestures.
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