The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) maintains a semi-annually updated forecast for all major categories of consumer electronics and has announced the results of their latest update for July saying the industry will hit another new high watermark in industry-wide sales. In a minor revision of their initial January 2014 forecast, the CEA now says total industry shipments in dollars will total $211.3 billion.
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Builders Group Holds Mid-Year Construction Forecast Meeting; Economists Cautiously Optimistic
The Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., (ABC) a builders trade association, held their third annual Mid-Year Construction Forecast presentation this week…inviting economists from three industry-related associations to present their outlook on the construction industry. This year, the invited economists included Kermit Baker (American Institute of Architects, AIA), David Crowe (National Association of Home Builders, NAHB), and their own Anirban Basu (ABC).
The economists this year were, overall, cautiously optimistic – with a heavy emphasis on caution.
See more on the presentations from the construction industry economists… [Read more…] about Builders Group Holds Mid-Year Construction Forecast Meeting; Economists Cautiously Optimistic
Marketers Continue to Shift B-to-B Advertising Dollars to Digital
Whether you’re a manufacturer/brand, distributor, rep…or even an integrator selling largely commercial installations…you are a business-to-business or B-to-B marketer. And you’re going to want to pay attention to this new data on marketing trends for B-to-B marketers.
New data released by Advertising Age shows a continued swing away from traditional media to digital media spending by B-to-B marketers. Some of the numbers from this new survey are eye-popping.
See more on Advertising Age’s new B-to-B marketing trends from their latest “Fact Pack”… [Read more…] about Marketers Continue to Shift B-to-B Advertising Dollars to Digital
Alpine to be First to Market with Apple’s CarPlay Console System
Alpine Electronics will be the first of ultimately several companies to offer a in-car infotainment system based on Apple’s CarPlay system according to a report late last week by the Nikkei. Alpine’s system, which will likely be replicated by others, allows drivers to listen to music, view maps, as well as access other iPhone capabilities.
See more on this new Alpine/CarPlay system that is coming soon… [Read more…] about Alpine to be First to Market with Apple’s CarPlay Console System
Major OLED Production Problems Force Panasonic & Sony to Refocus on 4K

In a report that appeared in the Nikkei on Christmas Day, it appears that Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp. have dissolved a joint OLED production initiative and will instead seek new methods individually. As a result, both companies will back-burner OLED and redouble their efforts on building their 4K UHDTV businesses.
This decision – along with poor sales of OLED sets from Samsung & others, calls it’s future into question… [Read more…] about Major OLED Production Problems Force Panasonic & Sony to Refocus on 4K
Startling Jump in November Housing Starts; Are Happy Days Here Again?
Newly released data from the Commerce Department shows that housing starts took what many are characterizing as a startling jump in November – rising 23% overall above the October rate and almost 30% above the November 2012 rate. Analysts are struggling to explain the gains other than to say these numbers show a durable housing recovery – welcome news considering the fact that the housing construction industry is a key driver of the overall economy.
The news is good…but is it a real recovery, or just an outlier?… [Read more…] about Startling Jump in November Housing Starts; Are Happy Days Here Again?
Yikes! New Research Confirms It: Affluents are Moving to Digital Shopping
In news sure to send a chill through the backbone of every luxury retailer and manufacturer of every luxury product – electronics included – eMarketer is reporting that new research makes it clear that Affluents, loosely defined as those with household incomes over $100,000, are now shopping online in increasing numbers. Up until now, online shopping was predominantly the domain of the mass consumer, with Affluents preferring gorgeous showrooms laden luxury appointments and knowledgeable, well-dressed and poised staff who cheerfully kowtow to them. Not any more…
Learn more about this latest research on Affluents, likely the target end-user for many of us… [Read more…] about Yikes! New Research Confirms It: Affluents are Moving to Digital Shopping
Hey Sales VPs, Think You Know Everything About Your Sales Team’s Performance? Think Again!
New research from Salesforce.com in conjunction with The TAS Group has recently uncovered some surprising data about the sales process. Having conducted a survey from a wide variety of industries, the company has created a report and infographic called 10 Things Every Sales Manager Should Know About Sales Performance. Suffice it to say that they have discovered some surprising truths about sales in today’s economy.
Think you know everything about your sales team performance? Think again… [Read more…] about Hey Sales VPs, Think You Know Everything About Your Sales Team’s Performance? Think Again!
Strata-gee’s CEDIA Expo Survey Offers Surprises – Positive & Negative
The CEDIA Expo is next week and our annual CEDIA Survey is now closed for responses. Thank you all who participated – we truly appreciate those of you who took the time to respond. Results are in and we have to say, just when we think there are no surprises left…we get surprised again.
See some of the surprising…and not so surprising results from this our 2013 Expo Survey… [Read more…] about Strata-gee’s CEDIA Expo Survey Offers Surprises – Positive & Negative
EXCLUSIVE: CEDIA Gives Strata-gee.com A Deeper Look at Its Latest Benchmarking Survey
STRATA-GEE.COM EXCLUSIVE
Last month, we reported that CEDIA released its 2013 Benchmarking Survey with certain select data highlighted. Now CEDIA has offered Strata-gee.com an exclusive look at the full report (the summary version provided to all CEDIA members) with the opportunity for us to highlight any results we found particularly enlightening. And in the process of reviewing their results – we discovered a much more comprehensive read on the “typical” CEDIA member than we had originally expected.