Editorial

Will LCD TVs be Christmas bargain?

Friday, October 8, 2010

Better and better electronics at cheaper and cheaper prices, combined with a slow economy may translate into bargain television prices this Christmas.

If you haven't yet bought a flat-screen TV -- and there aren't many of us left, judging by the number of old full-size entertainment centers at garage sales -- this may be the year.

That's because manufacturers turned out 52 million LCD panels in the second quarter of the year, but shipped fewer than 39 million televisions to retailers, according to CNNMoney.com.

Economics 101 explains that increased supply usually results in lower prices, and retailers are expected to continue to cut prices to reduce that oversupply and clear out their warehouses.

According to the report, the average price for a 32-inch LCD television has dropped from $1,566 in 2005 to $374 today, with bargains possibly as low as $199 for the Black Friday Christmas opener.

But don't wait too long -- other observers say the supply line will soon be thinned out, and other new models, such as LEDs and 3D models will be back with higher prices.

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