(Nikkei BP Group)
(No.1 High-Tech News Site in Japanese)
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| PC Prices in Japan Decline in January
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February 22, 1999 (TOKYO) -- The average sales prices of personal computers
in Japan declined in January, a reversal from December 1998, according
to a Nikkei Best PC survey.
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The survey is conducted on PC sales prices by Nikkei Best PC magazine,
and resulting data were compiled by Nikkei Market Access.
The average sales price of PCs as of Jan. 19 was 245,099
yen (US$2,070) for desktop/tower PCs, a 7,755 yen (US$65) decrease from
a month before. The average sales price of notebook PCs also declined
to 267,092 yen (US$2,260), down 11,183 yen (US$95). The decreases were
3.1 percent for desktop PCs and 4.0 percent for notebook PCs.
Since many PC vendors deliver spring models in February, January is a
month when PC stores see their stocks go and new ones come. There are
models in great demand such as lightweight and slim notebooks and desktops
with an LCD monitor. Most such models are either out of stock or no
longer in production. January PC sales are thus relatively stable after
December last year, when sales were brisk.
Nikkei Market Access does not see a major retreat in demand.
Spring models with high price performance already have been announced
since January, earlier than in previous years. Some products were in
stores by the end of January. Retailers' intent to make winter models
go before all the spring models are ready in stores has helped the average
retail price in January decline.
In February, most products in stores are replaced by spring models. Since
the number of models in the lower price ranges tends to increase for
both desktops and notebooks, an increase in the February average retail
price will be less likely.
Nikkei Best PC conducts a survey regularly on 14 major PC volume shops
in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya, and carryies the results in its monthly
issues. This survey, however, covered 16 volume shops until February
1998. The survey carries average retail prices by model and by shop.
Related stories:
� December '98 Retail PC Prices in Japan Rise
� PC Sales in Japan Fall 25 Pct. in 3rd Week of
Jan.
� NEC, IBM PCs in Short Supply at PC Shops: Nikkei
PC Survey
(Nikkei
Market Access)
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