PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
Online IT retail sales in the UK jumped 18.1 per cent in May 2013, including computers, monitors, printers and other hardware.
Offline sales fell three per cent.
Online consumer electronics sales, which includes anything from TVs to music players and camcorders, fell 4.5 per cent during the month. Office products declined 1.2 per cent.
The overall IT market grew 1.9 per cent compared to May last year, while the photo and consumer electronics categories continued to decline (14 per cent and 17 per cent respectively).
The findings come from the latest Market-i report from GfK for May 2013.
The percentage increase in value so far this year is 4.7 per cent in the IT sector, which has a market value of £2.8 billion (January to May 2013).
The total durables market (goods that are generally owned for a number of years before being replaced) grew in May 2013 for the first time since November 2012, rising by 2.6 per cent compared to the same month last year.
Independent retailers accounted for eight per cent of the total market value (compared to nine per cent at the same time last year).
"The IT sector experienced slight growth with media tablets and tablet peripherals such as wireless keyboards responsible for the majority of growth," read a statement. "Communication devices also drove growth in May 2013, with segments such as combi hubs, repeaters, network gateways and port replicators all seeing over double the volume from last May.
"Although the consumer electronics market decline was less dramatic in May after April’s record equalling shortfall, hopes had been modest at best, as 2013 TV ranges were slow to reach the market (no sporting events to tempt the consumer this year), the inevitable post switchover reduction in set top box sales continued and the only solace came from the consistent growth in sales of sound bars.
"Although the total audio/hi-fi product portfolio also declined versus May 2012, optimism among connected audio manufacturers and retailers was justified by another good month’s sales."
GfK tracks 67,000 shops via live electronic point of sale data.
Source: GfK www.gfk.com/uk
