2018 Teen Holiday Wish List: Apple iPhones, Fortnite ‘V-Bucks’

All teens want for the holidays this year is a new iPhone and some Fortnite “V-Bucks” virtual currency.

According to Market Watch, a new report by Piper Jaffray found that teens would rather have those items than cash or gift cards. The top item on U.S. teenagers’ wish list is Apple’s latest iPhone. In fact, the tech giant accounted for 11.5 percent of teen’s wish lists, with the top four consumer brands being the iPhone, Apple Watch, MacBooks and Airpods.

The next closest brand is Gucci, which only accounted for 0.6 percent, followed by Vans, Adidas and Lululemon and NBA 2k19, a basketball simulation video game.

As for Fortnite, players can buy 1,000 of the V-bucks virtual currency for $9.99 and use it to purchase items while they play, such as the “Battle Pass” for 950 V-bucks, and outfits and “skins” for their characters for between 500 and 2,000 V-Bucks. It’s no surprise that V-bucks are in such high demand; the video game has grossed more than $300 million on Apple’s iOS since it was launched on that system in March.

And if another recent report rings true, these teens might just get what they want this season. With strong income growth, increased customer confidence and low unemployment, U.S. holiday sales are expected to top $1 trillion this year, nearly 6 percent more than 2017.

“While eCommerce will continue to see strong double-digit gains, brick-and-mortar retail should be a particular[ly] bright spot this holiday season … retailers are luring in shoppers with remodeled stores, streamlined checkout and options to buy online, pick up in-store,” said eMarketer Principal Analyst Andrew Lipsman.

In addition, the National Retail Federation(NRF) has found that consumers are expected to spend an average of $1,007.24 in the upcoming holiday season. The figure marks a 4.1 percent increase from last year, when consumers said they would spend an average of $967.13.

“Confidence is near an all-time high, unemployment is the lowest we’ve seen in decades and take-home wages are up. All of that is reflected in consumers’ buying plans,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.