TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Year-end sales of flat-screen televisions in Japan are expected to grow 40 to 50 percent in volume terms from a year earlier thanks to a government sales incentive program, a market research firm said Wednesday.

In value terms, sales of flat-screen TVs in November and December are likely to increase 30 percent, BCN Inc. said.

BCN attributes the projected rise to the government's "eco-point" campaign to encourage purchases of energy-efficient air conditioners, refrigerators and TVs that are capable of receiving high-quality terrestrial digital broadcasting. Under the program aimed at promoting Japan's fight against global warning, up to 10,000 eco-points, equivalent to 10,000 yen, are awarded to buyers.

In October, sales of flat-screen TVs jumped 67.7 percent in volume and 39.9 percent in value from a year earlier, BCN said.

The research firm also said sales of personal computers in October grew 19.3 percent in volume, marking the first double-digit percentage increase in four months due to the launch of the new Windows 7 operating system.

Yea-end unit sales of PCs are expected to rise around 20 percent, it added.