TV shipments show fastest decline since 2009

Worldwide TV shipments were down almost 8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2012, the steepest rate of decline since April-June 2009, according to NPD DisplaySearch. First quarter TV shipments reached 51 million units.

The biggest contributor to this decline was a slowdown in shipments of LCD TVs, which fell year-on-year for the first time in the history of the category, declining just over 3%, to 43 million units.

“Soft demand and cautious expectations about the upcoming year in many parts of the TV supply chain have led to a slowdown in shipments,” said Paul Gagnon, NPD DisplaySearch director of north America TV research. “Key component prices, such as LCD panels, are not expected to decline much in 2012, and many brands are concentrating on improving their bottom line. Both of these trends will contribute to slowing unit volume among a price conscious consumer market.”