« Turning Your Computer Into A High-Def Digital Television With The AverMedia Volar | Main | Is Blu-ray Worth More Inside A PlayStation? »
Weak Retail Sales, Lower Oil Take The Gas Out Of GPS Prices
Electronics | Oct 16, 08
As the economy slows and gasoline prices ease, it appears even gas-saving automotive GPS units are getting cheaper.
After significant price declines through 2007 and the first half of 2008, GPS pricing seemed to have stabilized somewhat. This may have been at least partly due to the high gasoline prices of a few months ago, as automotive GPS units can save consumers money on gas by finding efficient routes to destinations (see “Why Al Gore Should Want You To Buy A GPS”). However, as noted in a recent PriceSCAN press release, general economic weakness and falling gas prices seem to be contributing to renewed downward pressure on GPS prices. The PriceSCAN Automotive GPS with Voice Recognition Index declined by 8% during the five weeks starting at the beginning of September, and you can see this reflected in the price movements of the most sought after GPS units on this site. For example, the Garmin Nuvi 760, currently the most popular auto GPS on PriceSCAN, would have run you at least $360 a little over a month ago, and is now offered by vendors on this site for under $310.
Time Period: 9/10/2007 through 10/13/2008
Each tick mark represents one week
Red = High Price, Blue = Average Price, Green = Low Price
Simnilarly, TomTom’s most popular automotive GPS, the TomTom GO 720, may be had for just under $230 verus $275 a few weeks ago.
Time Period: 9/10/2007 through 10/13/2008
Each tick mark represents one week
Red = High Price, Blue = Average Price, Green = Low Price
If retail sales further weaken and global economic softness continues to hold down the price of petroleum, we may see further declines in GPS prices as we head into the holidays. Of course, that’s the downside of cheap oil: it reduces the consumer’s incentive to conserve.
Haven’t we seen this movie before?
Posted by jeffrey.trester (Permalink)
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://blog.pricescan.com/mtsystem/mt-tb.cgi/212
