Digital lifestyle products boom in Australia

Stan Beer
Friday, 23 September 2005 10:00

Your IT - Entertainment

The digital lifestyle market is booming in Australia, with sales in the 1st half of 2005 significantly higher than in the corresponding period of 2004, according to a new report.

According to the Canon Digital Lifestyle Index, digital lifestyle product sales in the 1st half of 2005 totaled $941 million, 23% up on the corresponding period in 2004. However, sales fell 14% compared to the 2nd half of 2004, when sales of $1.1 billion were reported - much of this fuelled by Christmas spending.

Digital still cameras, digital audio devices, DVD hardware, and digital TVs show big sales increases compared to a year ago, and these categories are driving the index up, according to the Canon report.

Digital cameras sales of $288 million equate to 31% of the total. DVD hardware spending amounted to $174m, or 18% of the total. Consumers bought $158 milion worth of digital audio devices, 16.8% of total spending

NSW/ACT residents have been much faster to purchase digital audio devices and digital cameras, and their overall per capita spending on products is significantly higher than people from other states. NSW/ACT per capita spending was $55.98, clearly ahead of the other states and territories. The others share a very similar spending profile, ranging from a low of $36.43 for SA (incl. NT) to $38.76 for VIC (incl. TAS).

Signs of a flattening or slowdown in sales for some other products have been confirmed. Sales revenues fell for digital camcorders, games consoles and inkjet printers compared to the 1st half in 2004.