Consumers plan to spend an average of $222 on CE this holiday, a gain of eight percent over last year.

Shawn DuBravac, CEA's chief economist and director of research and Steve Koenig, CEA's director of industry analysis, kicked off the 2009 Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Industry Forum this week with the popular Holiday Sales and Forecast presentation. DuBravac began with an economic overview and outlook, noting that despite a difficult year there are signs of optimism for the holidays.

Koenig announced CEA's research finding that consumers plan to spend more on consumer electronics this holiday season as technology plays a main role in holiday gift budgets. CEA found that consumers plan to spend an average of $222 on CE this holiday, a gain of eight percent over last year. The 16th Annual CE Holiday Purchase Patterns study tracks CE devices consumers intend to give as gifts, as well as those they hope to receive. Consumer electronics comprise four of the top 10 items on adults' holiday gift wish list, with computers and video games ranking two and three respectively, behind clothing.

"There are signs of optimism in our holiday forecast," said DuBravac. "As the holiday approaches, consumer appetite for technology highlights the resiliency of the tech sector."

Sir Ken Robinson, acclaimed innovator and author of the book The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, addressed attendees during a luncheon keynote Monday afternoon. Robinson began by stating that imagination is the only thing that sets us apart and that we spend most of our lives suppressing it. He went on to tell the crowded room that in order to achieve success both professionally and personally that we cannot be afraid of making mistakes and must embrace the unknown of our imagination in the search of innovation. "We must make innovation a habit, not an accident and to do that we need to challenge the things we take for granted."

Sir Ken Robinson, PhD is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. He works with governments in Europe, Asia and the USA, with international agencies, Fortune 500 companies and some of the world's leading cultural organizations.