Audio Sales Gain In March, Dip In Q1

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 5/28/2001

ARLINGTON, VA. — Factory-level audio sales dipped in the first quarter by 1.2% to $1.76 billion despite a 4.1 percent gain in March to $767 million, CEA statistics show.

Home audio components and aftermarket autosound rebounded in March from the previous month's declines, but for the quarter, component sales were down, and autosound sales were flat. Portable audio (including home radios) posted declines for the month and quarter, but home systems gained during both periods.

The autosound aftermarket posted the industry's strongest gains in March, with sales rising 10.9 percent to $265 million, but first-quarter growth was a meager 0.1% to $555 million.

Home components posted the month's second-best gain. Sales rose 5.9 percent to $133 million, but weakness in previous months led to a Q1 decline of 8.8 percent to $325 million.

Home systems gained during the month and quarter, with March sales rising 1.8 percent to $160 million. First-quarter sales were up 7 percent to $411 million.

Total home audio sales (components and systems combined) were up 3.6 percent for the month to $293 million but down for the quarter by 0.6 percent to $736 million.

Portable audio sales dipped for the month and quarter, with March sales dropping 2.9 percent to $209 million. First-quarter sales were off 3.5 percent to $469 million.

March, Q1 2001 Factory-Level Audio Sales
In millions

	March	First Quarter
Portable audio*	$209 (-2.9%)	$469 (-3.5%)
Separate components**	$133 (+5.9%)	$325 (-8.8%)
Home systems***	$160 (+1.8%)	$411 (+7.0%)
Aftermarket autosound	$265 (+10.9%)	$555 (+0.1%)
Total audio	$767 (+4.1%)	$1,760 (-1.2%)
* Includes home radios. Consists of electronic components, speakers * Consists of shelf, rack and home-theater-in-a-box electronics/speaker systems. Source: Consumer Electronics Association, Arlington, VA.