The electronics giant faces a double whammy—not only is this the weakest consumer electronics season in years, but among those who are buying, large numbers are fleeing Best Buy for the discount retailers.

As the following chart shows, discounters Wal-Mart (18%; up 5-pts), Sam's Club (12%; up 3-pts) and Costco (27%; up 3-pts) are rapidly picking up share in the home entertainment and computer/networking market.

Tiny Uptick in Consumer Sentiment

The survey also asked respondents about their current impressions of the economy—and while consumer sentiment still looks awful, some of these indicators aren't quite as dire as in September.

A total of 15% now think the overall direction of the U.S. economy is going to improve over the next 90 days—3-pts better than a month ago. And while a huge 57% believe the overall direction of the U.S. economy will worsen, that number is 9-pts better than previously.

In another small positive, 14% now say they are More Confident in the U.S. stock market than they were 90 days ago, 7-pts improved from previously. Nearly two-thirds (64%) continue to say they're Less Confident, but that's also a 5-pt improvement.

But even as the above findings show the slide in consumer sentiment may be starting to stabilize, there are other far less encouraging signs.

For more from the ChangeWave Alliance, check out: How to Profit From Out-of-Control Inflation, Doctors Report Slowdown in Medical Spending, iPhone vs. Blackberry: Consumers Speak Out.)