"Belt-tightening is in fashion at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, with many companies sending fewer people to the annual gadget fest in Las Vegas. And some technology vendors, in a similar spirit, are offering products with an eye toward helping users save some money.
It's not surprising. The Consumer Electronics Association, which in July projected that U.S. sales for the industry would grow 7.4% in 2008, on Thursday is expected to revise that figure to 5.4% -- and predicting that sales this year will decline 0.6%. Recent surveys have provided further evidence that many consumers have lost the itch to spend. Even sure sellers in the past -- portable videogame players and navigation devices -- are starting to slip.
To help overcome the resistance, gadget makers are packing more features into existing devices, such as TVs with Internet connections, so users don't have to pay the money for an extra set-top box. Others -- like portable-computer makers Sony Corp. and OQO Inc. -- are appealing to consumers with low prices."
READ MORE HERE
No comments:
Post a Comment