DisplaySearch Reports Global LCD TV E-Tail Prices Fell an Average of 13% Y/Y in December

Sort Date: 01262009

Austin, Texas, January 26, 2009—Global LCD TV e-tail prices fell an average of 13% Y/Y last month, according to DisplaySearch’s latest Monthly Global TV E-Tail Pricing & Specification Database. The price decrease was lower than expected, as DisplaySearch recently included India in its global research, which has higher TV prices due to the region’s high consumption tax. The report findings also concluded that PDP TV e-tail prices fell 16% Y/Y, while CRT TV prices only dropped 4% Y/Y for the same period.

As noted in the chart below, the LCD TV set vs. panel price index has been increasing since August, indicating that LCD TV panel prices have been falling faster than TV set prices during this period.

Figure 1: LCD TV Global Set Price vs. LCD Panel Price Index

Source: DisplaySearch’s Monthly Global TV E-Tail Pricing & Specification Database

As noted below, Japan and India are the highest priced regions for LCD TVs, while China is the lowest priced region. For example, a 32” WXGA+ LCD TV in India costs $950, 57% higher than the $607 LCD TV price in North America. A 26” WXGA+ LCD TV in China is sold at $416, 87% lower than the same units selling at $778 in Japan. For 32”, 37” and 40”, India and Japan prices are generally 50% higher than China and North America; the gap is larger above 40” as well as below 32”.

Table 1: LCD TV Price by Region in December 08

Source: DisplaySearch Monthly Global TV E-Tail Pricing & Specification Database

When comparing the price index of 32” LCD TV vs. 25-29” CRT TV, it is evident that their price gap has narrowed due to the comparatively stable price for CRT TVs and continuously falling price of LCD TVs. The price gap between 40” HD LCD TVs vs. 30-34” CRT TVs has also narrowed.

Table 2: Historical TV e-Tail Price Index

Source: DisplaySearch Monthly Global TV E-Tail Pricing & Specification Database

The DisplaySearch Monthly Global TV E-Tail Pricing & Specification Database tracks e-tail price trends for LCD TVs, PDP TVs and CRT TVs by major screen size in the North America, Europe, Japan, China and India regions.  For more information, contact DisplaySearch sales at +1.512.687.1511 or via email at sales@displaysearch.com.

About DisplaySearch
DisplaySearch, an NPD Group Company, has a core team of 59 employees located in Europe, North America and Asia who produce a valued suite of FPD-related market forecasts, technology assessments, surveys, studies and analyses. Visit the DisplaySearch blog to read about how our top analysts are interpreting up-to-the-minute issues that impact the display industry, and join us in this discussion about technology and the flat panel industry. The company also organizes influential events worldwide. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, DisplaySearch has regional operations in Chicago, Houston, Kyoto, London, San Diego, San Jose, Seoul, Shenzhen, Taipei and Tokyo, and the company is on the web at http://www.displaysearch.com/.

About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,600 manufacturers, retailers and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys and wireless. For more information, visit http://www.npd.com/.