Market for IT and Electronic Devices Bontinues to Grow

It does not look as if the Germans freeze from fear of the future the money in the pockets. Whether laptops or tablets, mobile phone or electrical appliances: The market for IT and electrical equipment in this country is still in motion. In the third quarter of this year, in this industry, according to the Society for Consumer Research (GfK) before a slight growth, even into the fourth quarter and thus can be saved for over the Christmas period.;

Then the total market for technical consumer goods in sales during July to September 2011 increased year on year by 3.5 percent to a total of twelve billion €. Sales in the IT market totaled 4.3 billion euros in total - compared to last year, an increase of 8.2 percent. The main reason for this development saw the GfK German interest in IT products such as tablets and notebooks.

The trend toward fast-growing but technologically demanding market niches as well as cloud-computing offerings continued in the third quarter. Especially notebooks were still in demand, but falling prices dampened their growth rates. Also enjoyed increasing popularity tablet computers, as more and more manufacturers brought relatively inexpensive products on the market. Also recorded high growth rates and the area of ​​"storage", which include, inter alia, external hard drives, wireless routers and docking stations.

The market for telecommunications brought the third quarter of 2011 for the first time since the fourth quarter of positive growth rates in 2010, which was mainly due to the high demand for smartphones. The rising popularity of digital all-rounder was simple but at the cost Phones that can not score with such diverse functions.

As smartphones despite a slight waning momentum is still a high double-digit increase in sales achieved, the declines in the other mobile phones as well as stand-alone fax machines were more than compensated. Consumers in Germany can now choose from a growing range of entry-level smartphones. Industry and network operators to reach their target groups through new models of relatively cheap, affordable monthly flat rate and prepaid Internet services.

A stable trend over the third quarter of 2010 showed, however, the market for photographic and imaging products. The sales growth of 1.3 percent over the previous year to 625 million € is by market researchers as a "particularly gratifying" believes, because 2010 marked the bi-annual international trade fair Photokina stand, while this year decency no comparable and sales promotion industry major event. Hence also the slight decline in sales of digital cameras into perspective compared to the previous year. What impact has the manufacturer Nikon new entry in the compact system cameras on the market remains to be seen.

The market for consumer electronics amounted to minus 3.1 percent compared to last year even in the third quarter in negative territory, but took its presence felt. Among the reasons for this was the revenue stabilization of TV sets, by far the most important category. From the trend towards larger units particularly benefit from wall mounts to increase their revenues double digits. Following the introduction of digital radio standards DAB + in August, boosting demand for portable radios to the top. In the future, GfK also expects positive momentum in the market for web radio.