"Peace, happiness, health - and consumer electronics - are on the wish lists of Americans this holiday season, according to our forecast survey," Wargo said. "Despite concern about the overall economy, consumers intend to purchase, as well as hope to receive, a plethora of consumer electronics gifts this holiday season. More, our survey indicates that retailers and consumers alike will be humming a happy tune entering the New Year, as results show the MP3 player is going to be one of the hottest sellers."

The survey tracks CE devices consumers intend to give as gifts, as well as those they hope to receive. The MP3 player topped both lists this year displacing the digital camera at the top of the gift list and the plasma TV at the top of the wish list from last year's survey. Consumer interest in buying a portable MP3 player has increased eight points from 2004, to 28%. Revenues from sales of MP3 players are up 105% so far this year, according to CEA.

For the second year in a row, CEA also surveyed CEA|CNET Tech First Panel participants for the holiday study in order to determine the holiday gifting intentions of technology early adopters. The study was administered via the Internet to an online sample of CNET users who were screened as people who adopt consumer electronics products in the early to mid-product life cycle stages. The CEA|CNET Tech First Panel sheds light on the thoughts, behaviors and desires of the first consumers to buy technology products. Their interests and behaviors are often precursors to future mass market trends. The MP3 player topped their list for gift giving, as well. Fifty-seven percent said they are likely to purchase an MP3 player this season to give as a gift. Other top early adopter gift-giving items included a digital camera, internal PC upgrade, video game system and home networking devices.

Following the MP3 player, the full wish list for the randomly selected survey respondents included, in order of preference: plasma television, digital camera, laptop PC, big screen TV, desktop PC, video game system, high-definition television, DVD recorder and home theater speakers or system. The gift-giving list included: portable MP3 player, digital camera, video game system, cordless phone, home DVD player, portable headset CD, game peripherals, DVD recorder, cellphone and laptop PC.

When adult consumers were asked what they wanted most, CE products followed peace, happiness and good health; conversely, when asked what their kids wanted most, respondents listed CE products first with video games leading the inventory.