U.S. IT sales through commercial resellers were up 7 percent in December 2009 reaching $1.6 billion, the first and only year-over-year revenue gains in 2009, and yet another sign that technology sales are on the rebound, according to leading marketing research company, The NPD Group’s Reseller Tracking Service.

Sales through this channel, which primarily serves small and medium size businesses, had been gradually improving since September, with October marking the first month in 2009 with less than double-digit revenue declines. December’s positive sales results were the first monthly revenue increase since the summer of 2008, illustrating how closely business demand for IT mirrored the downturn in the economy.

Commercial reseller sales for all of 2009 plunged 12 percent year-over-year, ending the year at $16.3 billion. Flat fourth quarter sales were not sufficient to offset the three prior quarters of mid-teen rates-of- decline. But the substantial improvement in trend bodes well for 2010 when stronger demand and weak comparisons ought to help keep spending trends positive.

“The favorable revenue trends in the fourth quarter culminating in positive December growth bode well for recovery in 2010,” said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD. “With revenue growth coming as much from stable ASPs as from unit growth, SMBs are likely still buying on need. But, having key metrics such as units and ASP trending positively across multiple categories provides a solid underpinning for growth in 2010. December server results are a great example of how even though unit demand may be weak, strong ASPs are helping to keep almost all of the key product segments in positive territory.”

Source: The NPD Group/Reseller Tracking Service

For more insight about the commercial reseller channel, see Stephen Baker's blog post at the link below.

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