CONSUMER BRIEFING / ELECTRONICS
Times Staff And Wire Reports
Never mind the lousy economy: Flat-panel TVs are still flying off the shelves in the U.S. and Canada.
Sales of new flat-panel TVs totaled 7.8 million in the first three months of the year, an increase of 17% from the same period last year, research firm ISuppli Corp. said. Sales had declined in the fourth quarter from the year before, and the industry was expecting to see that trend continue into this year, but North American consumers seem to have a resilient love for big sets.
ISuppli’s vice president of displays, Joe Abelson, attributed the increase to “cocooning.” People who have cut back on travel and other spending still find the money to improve their home entertainment setup, he said.
