Study says if the weakness continues, “we may see some manufacturers exit the flat-panel television business.”
02.09.2009 — The price index for 50- to 59-inch plasmas dropped 6 percent last week, according to PriceSCAN.
PriceSCAN also recently found the price index for 40-inch plasmas dropped 3.4 percent in one week, after falling 2 percent during the holidays.
Shipments of plasmas fell 12 percent year-over-year (Y/Y) to 3.8 million units in Q4 2008, the first Y/Y decline since Q2 2007, according to DisplaySearch.
“Vendors seem to have attempted to hold the line on large plasma pricing through the holidays. Some may have hoped for an early ‘09 buying surge, bolstered by pent-up demand and inauguration-fueled good feelings,” says Jeff Trester, PriceSCAN co-CEO and chief economist.
“With these hopes now vanished, it appears merchants are throwing in the towel. If this weakness continues, we may see some manufacturers exit the flat-panel television business.”
Pioneer, makers of the highly-rated Kuro plasmas, is one of those potential manufacturers. The company plans to exit the TV market and spinoff its DVD operations into a joint venture with Sharp, according to Japan’s Nikkei newspaper.
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