Consumer technology sales jump 7% in May

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. Consumers spending their economic stimulus checks helped consumer technology sales jump 7% to $5.4 billion in May, the biggest monthly increase of 2008. Notebook computers and LCD TVs were the strongest categories followed by digital cameras, MP3 players, inkjet cartridges and desktop computers.

Consumer technology spending had been down 5% from January through April. “The stimulus checks played a part in the positive results we saw in May but we still have a lot of ground to make up,” said Stephen Baker, vp of industry analysis for the NPD Group.