iSuppli/Stanford Resources published a report on LCD panel prices.
Prices for large-sized LCD panels for notebooks and LCD monitors have begun declining this month, bringing an end to a five-quarter period of consecutive increases.
Panel makers are cutting prices, as they attempt to burn off their inventories, which are rising due to increased production levels and a slowdown in present and expected system demand, which partly reflects a disappointing outlook for back-to-school PC sales.
Panel prices began to increase in April 2003, and rose about 21-28% from that time until last month. The price of 15-inch notebook and LCD monitor panels in the XGA format increased to the US$230 to US$235 range in June, up from US$180 to US$190 last April.
Meanwhile, 14-inch panel prices increased to US$220, up from US$171, during the same period.
Panel price reductions starting in July brought some relief to panel buyers who have been battered by rising costs over the past few months.