Thursday, December 1, 2011

In an unexpected twist, TVs are topping many Christmas shopping lists.

Heading into the holiday shopping season, TVs seemed so two
Christmases ago. Sales had slowed as consumers tightened their
budgets and technologies like 3D failed to spark their interest the way tablet computers and smartphones have. But now shoppers are
responding to the discounts of up to 50 percent that retailers are offering on TVs.

Most chains don't break out TV revenue, but overall unit sales are up 15 percent this year through October, according to the latest data available from research firm NPD Group Inc. That compares with a 2 percent rise during the same period in 2010. Meanwhile, prices have dropped 7 percent to an average of $597, compared with $647 last year and $734 in 2009.