Sales of home digital recording devices such as camcorders and digital video recorders (DVRs) continue to grow, according to data released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). CEA market research noted that digital camcorder unit sales have risen 12 percent year-over-year, totaling 2.6 million units through September compared to 2.3 million units for the comparable 2003 period. Total camcorder sales, which include standard analog and digital camcorders, have fallen by 8 percent to 3.6 million units, a trend CEA attributes to a transition period between the analog and digital alternatives.

The Association noted that unit sales of DVRs have increased 304 percent year-over-year, surpassing one million units for the nine-month period through September 2004. Dollar sales for the first nine months of 2004 have surpassed $345 million, up 233 percent compared to the same period in 2003.

DVD recorder sales for the nine-month period were 463,000 units, up 44 percent from the comparable 2003 period. Additionally, sales of recordable DVDs have risen to 324 million units, up 569 percent year-over-year. Recordable CD unit sales remain strong at 1.9 billion annually.

Meanwhile, sales for analog recording media and technologies are declining as digital media becomes more prevalent, according to the CEA. VHS tape sales are down 20 percent to 161 million units compared to 2003, and audio cassette tapes are down 13 percent to 97 million units.