LCD prices: The harder they fall

Flat-panel monitors have become more and more affordable, and the trend is accentuating. According to our confrere Purchasing.com, prices on 17" LCD computer monitors fell 19 percent between July and September, and the trend won’t turn around anytime soon.

Demand remains low and wholesalers’ inventories are at record levels, while supply from production units in China is booming.

The message is that if you plan to purchase a TFT monitor, you should wait a bit longer, even if price stabilization is expected around early December when Christmas appraoches.

However, it has to be admitted that the price reduction makes its way only partially to the consumer, since the roughly half-dozen middlemen all want to get their share of the price drop too.