It's not just you: Tech spending may grow to more than $96 billion during holiday season
Televisions once again are leading the way as the most-requested technology gift this holiday season, according to a trade association's annual study.
Gizmo spending is projected to hit $96.1 billion nationwide for the holiday shopping season tracked from October through December, according to the Consumer Technology Association. The $96.1 billion would be about 3.4 percent higher than 2017 if the estimate holds.
Ben Arnold, the association's senior director of innovation and trends, said the organization is finding consumers this year are willing to spend a premium on tech products they consider essential to everyday life, such as smart phones, laptop computers and TVs.
"In addition to those core devices, key emerging categories to watch this holiday season are smart home devices - powered by voice technology - smart watches and wireless ear buds," Arnold said in a statement.
Televisions top this year's wish list, just like in 2017. The association's Top Five list has laptop computers second, a tie for No. 3 between smart phones and tablets, smart watches in fourth place and a tie for No. 5 between desktop computers and cameras.
Emerging tech also is in demand for the holiday season. That category includes smart home devices, wireless ear buds and drones, according to the Consumer Technology Association.
Much of the tech buying is expected during what the association calls Black Friday Week, which runs from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday. Big-ticket items such as the TVs and smart phones are projected to account for many of the week's sales, association research shows.
About 110 million U.S. adults plan to shop for tech over Black Friday Week, Arnold said.
Research shows about 98 percent of shoppers will buy tech in traditional stores, with most going to a mass merchant. The association's annual holiday report indicates 93 percent also will get items using a desktop computer, laptop or mobile device.
For overall gift giving, a National Retail Federation survey finds that 60 percent of respondents wanted gift cards, taking the top spot for the 12th consecutive year. Consumer electronics and accessories finished fourth at 29 percent, behind clothing and accessories (No. 2) and books and other media (No. 3).