Sales of TVs by retail channels in China's tier-1 cities totaled 1.9 million units in the first week of January 2012, representing a decline of 20% from the same period of a year earlier and a sharp contrast to a 4% growth projected previously, according to the latest findings by China-based All View Consulting (AVC).

The sales decline indicated that the buying spree for TVs prior to the Lunar New Year in China may not be as strong as expected, noted sources in the supply chain in Taiwan, who also added that some China-based TV vendors have slowed inventory build-ups for the first quarter.

As a result, some industry watchers have slashed projected TV sales in China in January to 5.5-5.6 million units from 5.8 million units forecast previously.

Sales of TVs in China are expected to grow by a relatively slow pace of 8% to 39-40 million units in 2012, the sources estimated.