Consumer Electronics Makers Brace for Slow Market

At the IFA electronics show in Berlin, company representatives from some of the largest gadget makers talked about the slowdown in the overall industry and their opinions on what will happen. The worldwide economic outlook isn’t pretty but some of the makers expect that sales will be ok in the gadget segment.

"We have not seen an impact on consumer spending yet," [Sony CEO Howard] Stringer said, adding people often sought solace in entertainment during uncertain economic times -- citing the popularity of cinemas during the depression of the 1930s.

I think this is why the current Depression is going to be much worse. Back in the '30s, most people weren't pissing away their food and shelter money on radios and other gadgets of the era. If they could save up to see a movie or enjoy some other 'treat', then they would do so when they actually had the money in-hand. Back then most people had this little thing called 'common sense' and did not have these things called 'credit cards' and 'home equity lines of credit'. Excuse me while I start learning Chinese...