Expect a price increase on flat panel monitors in May
If you been wanting that 24" or 30" monster, get them now before they cost you more...


Monitor vendors are feeling the pressure from rising panel prices, with market watchers predicting that monitor prices may go up as early as May.
Monitor vendors have admitted that rising panel prices – which have gone up US$2-5 since the beginning of April – are heaping pressure on them, but they remain conservative about adjusting their monitor prices upwards at present.
Acer said it is unlikely to up its monitor prices now. But if panel prices continue to rise it will be inevitable to raise its monitor prices, it said.
Sources with Samsung Electronics said the Korean vendor has yet to decide whether it will increase its monitor prices. But it will not rule out doing so if panel prices continue rising, the sources said.
BenQ said it will take 1-1.5 months for the prices on the terminal market to reflect the rising panel costs in April. BenQ said its currently available monitors have been on the market for quite some time, and therefore it has no plans to raise the prices in the near term.
Viewsonic said it has yet to decide whether it will adjust its monitor prices, which will depend on costs, market situations, and competitors' reactions. Viewsonic raised its monitor prices ahead of competitors to reflect rising panel costs in the third quarter of 2006. But when competitors did not promptly follow suit, the higher prices created heavy pressure on sales.
Market observers pointed out that although margins for monitors are low, its prices are so sensitive an issue that vendors are conservative about raising them. But the observers predict that if panel prices continue rising, monitor prices will go up in early May.
Monitor panel prices have been going up due to decreased supply for the 17-inch segment, and strong demand for 19-inch and 19-inch widescreen segments, the observers said.

Read all about it here, courtesy of digitimes.com

Eric