TV makers seeing flat-screen plateau, expect sales to fall

Some predict sizes, quality will grow, prices to dip up to 7% through 2012

By Cox News Service

LA CEIBA, Honduras — After years of heady growth, flat-screen TV sales have reached a plateau, and the industry is set for a shake-up that could mean lower prices for bigger, better screens.

Average TV prices in North America are expected to be nearly flat this year and decline by 6 percent to 7 percent annually through at least 2012, predicts Austin, Texas-based market research company DisplaySearch. Average screen sizes, meanwhile, will likely keep growing.

Declining demand is helping drive down prices. Total TV sales fell by 3 percent last year after several years of double-digit growth.

TV makers are hoping the government-mandated nationwide switch to digital broadcasting in February 2009 will spur some sales between now and then.

For more information see today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Subscribers can read the story here on ArkansasOnline.