Black Friday Week Accounted for 46% of Holiday Electronics Sales

It's no secret that November is a busy month for holiday sales, but according to market research firm The NPD Group, November has become the month for gadget deals. A recent report from the group indicates that the two weeks that include Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday accounted for 46% of all 2012 holiday electronics sales. That's the highest it's been in the past four years.

Consumer electronics sales in general fell 7% for the entire holiday season year over year, but the pace of the decline was slower during the heavy November promotions than it was later in December. This again proves that the hyped Black Friday sales were effective in getting consumers to make purchases, and that mid to late November is definitively a prime time for tech shopping.

However, thrifty gadget fans needn't be glum waiting until Black Friday 2013. In fact, we're due for another round of significant discounts on electronics that very well may entice the same budget shoppers who made November such a strong month during the 2012 holiday season. This week marks the start of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and the tech trade show is where all manufacturers debut their 2013 product lineups. As a result, retailers will soon begin slashing prices of their 2012 inventory to make room for the new wave of electronics, which could begin arriving in stores as early as next month.

Items that are likely to see price cuts in the next few weeks include HDTVs; practically every TV manufacturer refreshes its HDTV lineup at CES, and last year prices dropped by 17% in January when compared to the month prior. Laptops too typically see price cuts, and in particular, this year's strong holiday deals and an incoming rush of touchscreen laptops could account for excellent discounts on older models in the coming weeks.

If the promise of deep discounts motivated you to purchase electronics in full force around Black Friday, then January and February might similarly entice you as several categories are refreshed at CES. Keep track of the latest sales on these items by setting up an email alert now to keep abreast of any and all incoming deals.