|
According to the NPD report, 75 percent of consumers surveyed said they will spend the same amount or more on digital music downloads as they did in 2008. Sixty-five percent will spend the same or more on video games, and sixty percent will spend the same or more on CDs. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of consumers expect to spend the same amount or more on theatrical movies; and based on comparison to last year’s statistics, the theatrical movie category appears to be in the best position for growth, as only 66 percent of survey respondents said they would spend the same or more last year. "Even in the face of a down economy, entertainment remains a popular spending category," said Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for NPD. "Most consumers say they’ll continue to purchase at least the same amount of many entertainment categories in the coming year." NPD reported 51 percent of consumers surveyed purchased a DVD or Blu-ray disc in the prior three months. Purchasing a console or portable video game ranked second at 36 percent, followed by purchasing a CD at 31 percent. According to "Entertainment Trends in America," current per capita spending on entertainment in the U.S. is $160 per month, with the bulk of that spending going to dedicated subscriptions mostly related to TV and Internet access. Despite predictions that consumers would trim entertainment subscriptions, the only notable decline in spending NPD observed were for magazines and newspapers. Even though the entertainment industry appears poised to ride out the recession better than others, Crupnick advises caution. "There is anxiety about the economy among entertainment buyers, increasing use of unpaid digital options for entertainment and competition for the entertainment dollar," Crupnick said, "but consumers have clearly shown that compelling content will get them back into the stores or theatres." Data note: Information in this press release was derived from The NPD Group’s "Entertainment Trends in America" tracking study. The study is based on more than 10,000 completed responses from U.S. consumers. The final survey data was weighted to represent U.S. population aged 13 and older. About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,600 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, contact us or visit http://www.npd.com/.
|