Steep Revenue Growth Achieved in Removable Memory
and LCD Monitors
RESTON, VIRGINIA (August 16, 2001) - While sales of
personal computers have been in decline, there has been robust
growth in consumables and new product categories such as removable
memory, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors, PDAs and recordable
CD drives during the first half of 2001, according to NPD INTELECT.
The dollar volume of computer product sales through domestic
retail outlets grew 3.4 percent to nearly $12.3 billion during the
first six months of 2001. The top-two revenue generating product
categories were removable memory and LCD monitors which grew over
210 percent and 149 percent respectively when comparing the first
half of 2001 with the same period in 2000. Blank CD media grew over
65 percent and PDA revenue expanded over 57 percent. Recordable CD
drives also increased over 30 percent from the same period in 2001.
"The depth of the PC decline, which had revenue losses of more
than 20 percent year-over-year, overshadows some exciting growth
categories in the computer products business," said Stephen Baker,
NPD INTELECT’s director of hardware research. "In fact, without the
components of the desktop PC bundle (PCs, CRT [Cathode Ray Tube]
monitors and ink printers), overall revenue would have been up 20
percent."
|
Top Performing
Computer Product Categories YTD 2001 vs. YTD 2000 |
| Category |
2000 Dollar Share |
2001 Dollar Share |
Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth |
| Removable Memory |
0.3% |
0.8% |
210.7% |
| LCD Monitors |
0.3% |
0.7% |
149.5% |
| Blank CD Media |
1.7% |
2.7% |
65.4% |
| PDAs |
2.4% |
3.7% |
57.3% |
| Printing Consumables |
22.9% |
29.1% |
31.9% |
| Recordable CD Drives |
2.2% |
2.8% |
30.4% |
Although peripherals performed well, it was the "core" computer
product categories that failed to thrive during the first half of
2001. Revenue share for these four main categories: printers,
scanners, CRT monitors and desktop PCs fell from 45.5 percent in
2000 to only 35.5 percent of sales through the first half of 2001.
"These four key categories have approached the sales slowdown in
markedly contrasted styles," Baker added. "While printer and scanner
manufacturers have been aggressively reducing prices, desktop PC and
CRT monitor vendors have chosen to hold the line on prices. Both of
these strategies have proven unsuccessful in generating revenue.
While sales have not yet rebounded, manufacturers are looking toward
the launch of Windows XP and the coming of the holiday season to
boost demand."
|
Underperforming
Computer Product Categories YTD 2001 vs. YTD 2000 |
| Category |
2000 Dollar Share |
2001 Dollar Share |
Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth |
| CRT Monitors |
7.5% |
5.5% |
-23.3% |
| Desktop PCs |
26.2% |
20.1% |
-20.4% |
| Scanners |
2.4% |
2.0% |
-13.6% |
| Printers |
9.4% |
7.9% |
-13.1% |
|
