Flat-screen televisions sold like hot cakes in France last year but shoppers shunned new cars as overall household consumption grew by 2.1 per cent.
Sales of TVs and DVD recorders leapt by 27.4 per cent in 2006, extending a jump the previous year of 21.1 per cent. The most desirable objects were flat TV screens, which sold massively during the football World Cup in Germany.
Cars seem to have fallen out of grace. New car sales fell by 4.2 per cent and overall auto sales were down by 2.5 per cent. DVDs, CDs, books, newspapers and magazines also declined.
Leading items among the increases were airline tickets, up by 7.5 per cent, games and toys (6.8 per cent), and health goods and services (3.9 per cent).
