PriceGrabber Examines the Mobile Lifestyle Market

Our retail partner PriceGrabber.com, has launched the first in a series of ongoing Consumer Behavior Reports to inform industry analysts, media and retailers of the latest research trends in the online shopping space. The first report examines mobile lifestyle trends specifically in the cell phone, MP3 player and digital camera markets.

"With shopping behavior and the digital landscape rapidly evolving, PriceGrabber.com's Consumer Behavior Reports serve as a valuable and reliable resource, providing informational data, statistics, shopping trends and research," said Michelle Kane, shopping pro for PriceGrabber.com.

Prices for new cell phones drop; consumers not buying new phones for "trendy" purposes. The average price for cell phones shopped for in the first quarter of 2006 was , showing an overall year-over-year decrease of 29 percent. Although cell phone prices have dropped, consumers still are willing to spend more than on a new cell phone.

Digital camera sales have leveled out, but consumers continue to shop the high-end. Demand for digital cameras remains high, although the sales trend has flattened out over the past year. As technology increases have led to consumers' ability to buy more "bang for the buck" for the same dollars, however, manufacturers have continued to release models with higher-end technology and features. Thus, manufacturers are able to keep high Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices rather than focusing on low-end, lower-priced models. Five of the top 15 digital cameras are digital SLRs (single-lens reflex cameras), showcasing online consumers' increasing interest in purchasing professional high-end cameras with an average price point of ,450.