Plasma HD sales fall 16%

Port Washington (NY) - Falling prices for plasma TVs were not met with an increase in sales, as consumers have become more aware of the advantages of LCD.

A recent report from NPD Group claims that plasma sales in February of this year totaled $181 million, down more than $30 million from $216 million in the same period last year.

NPD says this marks the first time it has seen a year-to-year decrease in flat-panel TV revenues of any sort.

In the past 12 months, plasma prices have declined significantly, and NPD says consumers have failed to bridge the price gap with more unit sales.

"While these lower prices have allowed Plasma manufacturers to reach out to a broader consumer base with a differentiated display technology, it’s still not enough to keep revenue on the rise," said NPD analyst Ross Rubin.

LCD HDTVs, on the other hand, saw a marginal year-to-year increase over the same period.