NEW YORK - According to a forecast from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), U.S. consumer electronics revenue will jump 5.6% to reach a record high of $190 billion this year, The Guardian reports.
The CEA forecasts sales in the U.S. of tablet computers will reach 26.5 million units, generating $14 billion in revenue, while smartphone sales will increase 45% to $23 billion.
The 5.6% growth is double the U.S. GDP growth, though the CEA said 2012 numbers are only expected to grow 3% as penetration widens.
"One year ago, tablets were a new and unproven market. Now they, along with other mobile connected devices including smartphones and e-readers, are leading the entire industry to positive growth," said Steve Koenig, the group's director of industry analysis.
The forecast is $4 billion more than what the CEA predicted in January when it said it expected 3% growth for 2011.