Apple was 2011's top-selling electronics brand, NPD Group says

Apple products accounted for 19% of all U.S. spending on consumer electronics during the holiday shopping season last year, helping the technology giant be the country's top-selling electronics brand for all of 2011, according to a new study.

Apple also was the third-largest U.S. electronics retailer in 2011 based on total revenue, research firm NPD Group said. The No. 1 retailer was Wal-Mart, followed by Best Buy. "Staples and Amazon tied for fourth place to round out the top five, a repeat of 2010," NPD said. Overall U.S. spending on consumer electronics fell 0.5% in 2011 to $144 billion.