Though a number of analysts expect inventory problems to depress holiday sales of gadgets, Apple is believed to have insulated itself from such problems.
International Data Corp. on Friday released a report showing smartphone shipments soared 36 percent worldwide in the fourth quarter as the sleek devices supplanted personal computers and other gadgets on holiday shopping lists.
Despite a national unemployment rate of 9.6%, the National Retail Federation is forecasting a 2.3% increase in holiday sales this year and analysts expect consumers to purchase at least one or two trendy gadgets.
Weak holiday sales are likely to affect a number of other companies involved in the assembly and marketing of gadgets, ranging from chipmakers to retailers.