IPod shortage for the holidays?

Now now. There's no need to panic. And we certainly don't want any shopping mall stampedes. But, just between us, word is that there may be a shortage of iPods this holiday season - not that anyone out there is trying to fuel a buying frenzy to ensure that little Billy and Sally have one to unwrap this year.

Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu said in a research note that his retail sources are reporting stronger that expected demand, according to a report in CNET. Apple, like so many others, were unsure about what to expect this holiday season, given the economic conditions and widespread stories about stock market losses and layoffs.  But Wu, apparently, thinks that the iPod could be positioned to withstand some of the doom-and-gloom, seeing how the iPod benefits from "strong consumer understanding of the value it provides."

CNET says Apple analysts had bee predicting sales of 18 million to 19 million iPods this season but Wu thinks that will be closer to 21 million, just shy of last year's 22 million sold during the season.