In what industry executives consider a sign of buoyant recovery in discretionary consumer spending post Covid-19 outbreak, the country's overall consumer electronics and appliances market from smartphones to washing machines<\/a> to wearable accessories grew 9% in calendar 2021 against pre-pandemic 2019.

The growth is driven by consumers increasingly opting for premium products despite the overall inflationary environment, price increase in all categories, and work from home due to restrictions for almost two quarters last year, industry executives said.

While mobile phones, laptops<\/a>, refrigerators<\/a>, washing machines, air-conditioners<\/a>, food processors<\/a>, wearables<\/a> and other accessories all sold more last year than 2019, television was the only category where 2021 sales were lower than 2019 by 3%, All categories including television posted robust growth over 2020, as per data from market intelligence firm GfK India<\/a>.

Computer sales in 2021 grew a whopping 87% from 2019 levels, while overall large appliances including refrigerators, air-conditioners and washing machines grew 10% over 2019, kitchen and small appliances grew by 13%, and overall mobile phone sales grew by 4%. Smartphone sales grew by 8%.

GfK tracks actual sales from retail stores and online platforms.

Nikhil Mathur, managing director, India at GfK, said the value growth for consumer technology products was largely driven by IT and home appliances, which can be attributed to the surge in online channels sales, premiumisation trend across categories, lower tier cities growth, and at-home norm.