ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Driven in part by the skyrocketing sales of connected devices, revenues for the consumer electronics (CE) industry are projected to grow two percent in 2014, reaching a record high of $211.3 billion, according to U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts 2010-2015,the semi-annual industry report released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^®. CEA’s consensus forecast reflects U.S. factory sales-to-dealers and covers more than 100 CE products, serving as a benchmark for the CE industry, and charting the size and growth of underlying categories.

Overall Revenue Growth

The new U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts report projects that total industry revenue will reach a record $211.3 billion in 2014; a steady, two percent increase from $207 billion in sales in 2013. This midyear update is in line with CEA’s projection in January, slightly adjusted after better-than-expected 2013 revenue growth. Looking ahead to 2015, CEA expects industry sales to grow by 1.2 percent, with industry revenues reaching another all-time high of $214 billion.

Emerging Category Growth

CEA’s forecast projects that revenues from emerging product categories will grow by 242 percent year-over-year in 2014, and another 108 percent in 2015. These developing technology categories include 3D printers, health and fitness devices, smart watches, Ultra HD television displays and smart thermostats, a newly-introduced sales category to the report.

Cumulatively, while the emerging product categories represent less than three percent of the entire CE industry revenue, they are expected to contribute almost $5 billion to the overall CE industry in 2014. That total is an astounding jump from just two years ago, when revenue from these categories was too small to track.

“There has never been a more exciting time for the technology consumer,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “Across the consumer electronics industry, companies are packing more innovative features than ever into products that have quickly become indispensable – even as the industry continues to introduce breakthrough innovations that are capturing the hearts, minds and imaginations of consumers across the nation. Emerging tech categories including wearable devices, Ultra HD TV and 3D printers are generating tremendous consumer excitement and cementing their place as the next generation of ‘must have’ products.”

Video

Innovations within the television category will help drive sales this year, as consumers choose larger screen sizes and premium display features to upgrade their home video experience. Despite a steady decline in average wholesale prices, TV sales remain critical to the industry’s overall bottom line with total TV sets and displays projected to reach $18.4 billion in 2014, down five percent from 2013.

• Ultra HD: The continued market growth of Ultra HD TV is performing better than initially projected in 2014. Unit shipments of Ultra HD displays are expected to reach 800,000 in 2014, earning $1.9 billion in revenue, a 517 percent increase over the 2013 total. Revenue from Ultra HD displays is projected to exceed $5 billion in 2015, an impressive total considering that revenue was virtually nonexistent three years earlier.

• LCD flat panels: LCD TVs will account for 94 percent of all digital display sets sold this year, with 36.7 million units expected to ship to dealers in 2014. That total will produce $17.3 billion in revenue, in line with 2013 levels as the third-highest revenue driver to the CE industry.

Mobile Connected Devices

Sales of mobile connected devices, specifically smartphones and tablets, will continue to stand as the top two revenue drivers of the CE bottom line in 2014. These two devices alone will represent 35.1 percent of total CE industry revenue in 2014. Although revenue growth for this category has slowed, unit sales will continue to see increases.

• Smartphones: As the sales leader of the industry, smartphone unit shipments are projected to reach 163.5 million this year, up eight percent from the 151 million units sold in 2013. Additionally, smartphone revenues are expected to generate $46 billion in 2014, a seven percent increase from $43 billion in 2013.
• Tablets: Unit sales of tablets are projected to reach 80.4 million this year, a four percent increase from 77.4 million in 2013. Revenues for tablets will reach $25.6 billion this year, down three percent.

“These top revenue-driving products, namely LCD flat panel TVs and mobile connected devices, can now be found in millions of households in a remarkably short amount of time,” said Steve Koenig, CEA’s director of industry analysis. “This has resulted in a crowded market, naturally lending itself to slowed revenue growth. Yet we’re at an interesting turning point in technology, as these same products are increasingly adopting premium, differentiating features, driving consumer interest and creating opportunities across other categories in the industry.”

Other Positive Growth Categories

Among the other product categories expected to see positive growth in 2014:

• Audio: Headphones, Bluetooth wireless speakers and soundbars remain the standout products of the category. Headphones are expected to sell 75.9 million units, earning $1.4 billion in revenue (a 20 percent increase over 2013). Bluetooth wireless speakers are expected to generate $650 million in total revenue in 2014, a 69 percent increase year-over-year, while soundbars are projected to reach $611 million in revenue (a 17 percent increase).
• Automotive electronics: The growth of new vehicle sales in 2014 will propel factory-installed systems to reach $11 billion in revenue, an increase of 20 percent.
• Gaming consoles: The release of eighth-generation gaming consoles at the end of 2013 is projected to drive revenues of $4.8 billion in 2014, along with a 35 percent increase in unit shipments.

Although CE industry revenue growth has slowed in recent years, from 7.7 percent in 2011 to 1.7 percent in 2013, total revenue crossed $200 billion for the first time in 2012 and shows no signs of retreating below that milestone.

“Industry revenue is reaching all-time highs, fueled in large part by a few specific categories, while much of the industry is still experiencing relatively flat growth due in large part to the continued decline of average selling prices,” said Shawn DuBravac, chief economist and senior director of research, CEA. “Although some categories continue to struggle, clearly there are many bright spots within the CE industry, and consumer enthusiasm for new features and emerging product categories provide reasons for long-term optimism about continued overall growth.”

The U.S. Consumer Electronics Sales and Forecasts report is published twice a year, in January and July, reporting U.S. factory sales to dealers. Designed and formulated by CEA, the report is the most comprehensive source of sales data, forecasts, consumer research and historical trends for the consumer electronics industry. CEA’s analysts combine forecast estimates from some 50 CE manufacturers and key industry analysts with CEA’s industry shipment data, also provided directly by industry, to size current market volumes and project future shipments. Please cite any information to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^®. The complete report is available for free to CEA member companies at CE.org. Non-members may purchase the study for $2,000 at the CEA Store.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the technology trade association representing the $211 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org, www.DeclareInnovation.com and through social media: http://www.ce.org/social

UPCOMING EVENTS

• CEA Innovate!Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2014, Phoenix, AZ
• CES Unveiled ParisOctober 22, 2014, Paris, France

• CE Hall of Fame DinnerNovember 10, 2014, New York, NY

• CES Unveiled New YorkNovember 11, 2014, New York, NY

• CES Unveiled Las VegasJanuary 4, 2015, Las Vegas, NV

• 2015 International CESJanuary 6-9, 2015, Las Vegas, NV