Sales research specialist GfK says the UK market for large TV displays (50″+) has managed “strong sales” in the past year, with October sales up 48 per cent on October last year.  However, total TV sales fell back 1 per cent in value overall, and 32”-42” sales fell by 11 per cent in value terms.

Consumer electronics (excluding games consoles) had a poor October with a value fall on October 2013 of  3.4 per cent. This can largely be attributed to a slight drop in TV volume sales, according to GfK. The main trends remain the same here with strong sales in newer connected audio products and 50”+ TVs and their accessories. Substantial growth in the newly tracked category of “tech wearables” provides some compensation and a healthy opportunity for retail this Christmas.

Matthew Fisher, GfK’s lead analysts on Digital, says: “The usual requirement for total Consumer Electronics (CE) growth is a robust performance from the TV market. Although TV does contribute to October’s CE decline with its own modest  shortfall (less than -1 per cent), the current TV market is blessed with dramatic growth in the largest screen sizes. 43”+ sets account for more than one billion pounds in the latest 12 months for the first time this month and show growth over 30 per cent. Ultra-HD sets already account for lifetime sales exceeding 100,000 pieces and continue their fast uptake. At the same time impressive growth for Soundbars continues, amounting to an increase of 25 per cent in October. On the downside, the total DVD category continues to decline by more than 20 per cent and even the newer Blu-ray category is suffering double digit declines. Any solace from the recent recovery of HD STBs is tempered by the continuing overall losses suffered by the more (formerly) popular products in this category.”

Fisher says that the main product trends continue in growth for “jumbo” screens, wireless, connected audio and a variety of related accessories.

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