'Tis the season...to buy a digital camera

Just in case you needed some holiday gift ideas, check out this story from the Photo Reporter:

Arlington, VA— The Consumer Electronics Association’s (CEA) 13th annual holiday survey places digital cameras as the foremost electronics gadget consumers plan to give as a gift this holiday season, followed by DVD players or recorders. In fact, CEA predicts a 27 percent increase in holiday spending in the category. According to the CEA, consumer electronics revenues will reach $140 billion for 2006 in the U.S.—an increase of more than 9 percent from the $128 billion figure posted last year. The survey also reveals that Americans intend to spend $5 billion more on electronics gifts this holiday season, for a total holiday spending of $22 billion.

“We’re seeing greater consumer spending across the board and what’s benefiting in particular is consumer electronics,” said Sean Wargo, CEA’s director of industry analysis.

After digital cameras and DVD players/recorders, consumers listed cell phones, portable music players, video game systems, portable CD players, laptop cases, televisions, cordless phones, flash memory cards, and clock or tabletop radios on their gift-giving lists.

Among the most-asked-for devices for the holidays are mobile music players, digital cameras, computers, televisions, game systems, DVD devices, cell phones and camcorders.