More than peace and happiness or even a big-screen TV, Americans want a new computer this holiday season, according to an annual survey conducted by the Consumer Electronics Association, which asked an open-ended query as to respondents' fondest holiday wishes.
The top five most desired holiday gifts:
1. Computers
2. Peace and happiness
3. Big screen TVs
4. Clothing
5. Money
(Source: Consumer Electronics Association)
Reuters says PCs will be best-sellers as consumers upgrade to higher-performing systems and switch to notebook PCs. A combination of falling prices and very cool applications--from games to videos to music--is creating the growing demand for portable machines that use Microsoft's new Vista operating system. That's good news for the PC makers who had to take a backseat the past few years as consumers put digital music players, mobile phones and automotive gadgets at the top of their holiday wish lists.
Meanwhile, the National Retail Federation conducted its own survey, and while computers and electronics are definitely hot, gift cards top the list with shoppers spending $817 for the holidays, including $107 on themselves. Those forecasted expenditures are up 3.7 percent from 2006, a significant number considering the rather gloomy economy.
Or are these the top five most desired holiday gifts?
1. Gift cards
2. Clothing and accessories
3. Books
4. DVDs
5. Videos and video games
(Source: National Retail Federation)
Gift cards lead this list because they're so easy to buy, thanks to the new "gift card malls" found in many grocery stores that allow one-stop shopping for gift cards to dozens of different retail outlets.
Here are some fun and creative ideas for presenting your gift card:
- Buy a gift card to a shoe store, but package the gift card inside a new pair of shoes or slippers.
- Give a box of chocolates and drop inside it a gift card to a lingerie or clothing store.
- Buy a CD and wrap a gift card to a music store with it.
