Consumer Electronics: Outlook, Trends and Analysis

Volume sales growth to peak in 2016, value sales remain flat

Driven by demand for smartphones, tablets and wearable electronics, volume and value sales growth in consumer electronics will remain positive over the forecast period, but prices are expected to continue to fall.

Mature categories remain important despite slow growth

Despite their lower margins slow growth, mature categories like LCD TVs and laptops offer vast volume sales, and companies cannot afford to ignore these products while chasing margins in emerging categories like wearable electronics.

The role of computers as the centre of digital life is being eroded, which is changing purchase habits

The proliferation of increasingly powerful smartphones and tablets, as well as applications designed for these devices, along with growing mobile internet usage globally are the largest contributing factors to price erosion and the shortening of replacement cycles in computers.

In-car entertainment continues to grow in emerging markets

While demand for in-car entertainment in developed markets continues to decline, growing car ownership and rising incomes in emerging markets make for positive prospects for aftermarket in-car entertainment.

LCD TVs remain the most important source of revenue

As demand for home audio and cinema, as well as video players declines, TVs are becoming ever more crucial. While OLED TVs are expected to continue growing, LCD TVs will remain the primary technology.

Smartphones to continue driving growth despite the emergence of wearables

Wearable electronics are expected to become mainstream products over the forecast period, but with lower prices and low overall volume sales they will not overtake smartphones, which will remain the largest growth driver in CE.

CE products to become a smaller part of the product mix in key channels

Electronics and appliance specialist retailers and internet retailing will remain the dominant channels for CE, but falling prices and slowing volume growth will result in a growing focus on non-CE products in these channels

What this report includes

• Top-level strategic analysis of how major consumer trends will influence global markets
• Consumer insight
• Impact across all relevant consumer markets
• Unique graphics and case studies
• Key market snapshots
• Accompanying presentation to synthesise main findings

Why buy this report

• Identify factors driving change now and in the future
• Understand motivation
• Forward-looking outlook
• Briefings and presentation should provoke lively discussion at senior level
• Take a step back from micro trends
• Get up to date estimates and comment