The general mood of frugality hitting US shoppers has yet to extend to the most popular electronics goods, which are seeing continuing robust demand. Some electronics retailers are even taking advantage of the belt-tightening trend to lift sales.

In spite of the country being apparently on the brink of recession, overall demand for new gadgets saw consumer electronics sales up an annualised 4.8 per cent in July, according to US government estimates. Sales of furniture and home furnishings declined by the same amount, while clothing sales managed a mere 0.9 per cent rise.