IBM Consumer Forecast Indicates New Selling Season Emerging

February and March are emerging as an important selling season for consumer electronics and appliances, according to an analytics-based study produced by IBM IBM. The findings have significant ramifications for merchants preparing for this retailing period. The $292 million increase in sales from January 2011 ($7.776 billion) to February 2011 ($8.068 billion) and the $330 million increase in sales from February 2011 to March 2011 ($8.398 billion) indicate that this period – traditionally a slow one for electronics and appliance sales – is becoming more important. In particular, the $330 million differential is $50 million greater than the average for the past 21 years. The February 2011 Index was more than double its historical mean (3.76 in 2011 vs. -3.30 average over the past 21 years), indicating a significant shift in momentum for this period. Going forward the forecast indicates that this trend appears to be continuing in 2012 and 2013.