JAPAN DATA: Domestic shipments of audio visual electric appliances such
as TVs and stereo totaled Y194.2 billion, down 26.2% on year in August,
posting the first y/y drop in three months, data released by the Japan
Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association showed.
The August decline followed +16.9% y/y in July and +24.8% in June. TV
shipments stood at 1.262 million units, down by 26.2% y/y in August,
showing the first decline in five months. Many shoppers rushed to retail
stores to buy TVs which can be used under digital broadcasting system
before July 24, when the government terminated analog broadcasting
services. This caused a pullback in demand for consumer electronics in
August.