Top Christmas gifts this year: digital cameras, cell phones, MP3 players

Consumer electronics gifts will account for 25% of all holiday gifts with revenues reaching $21 bln this holiday season, compared to $17 bln (21%) in 2005. Overall household spending for the holidays (factoring in gifts, decorations, food, travel and other assorted holiday expenses) will be up 14% in 2006 to $1,625 mln. Of that, half will be spent on gifts (a 27% increase compared to 2005) and consumers will spend $195 on average for CE gifts. Topping the gift list, or what consumers actually plan to buy, this holiday season are digital cameras, cellular phones, MP3 players, video game consoles, portable CD players, carrying cases, cordless phones, additional memory for digital cameras, laptops and clock radios.