Price erosion hits UK print market
March 2008 – Surrey, UKThe value
of the UK consumer print hardware market fell by 13 percent in 2007
according to latest figures released by research firm GfK.While volumes
remained flat at almost 5 million units, the value fell to around £280
million ($560 million), says the Gfk report. In December 2007, 25
percent of all devices sold were priced at under £35 ($70).As expected,
the shift from single function devices to MFPs was a big driver with
MFPs accounting for 58 percent of all sales compared to 42 percent 18
months ago.Commenting on the outlook for 2008, Neil Frackiewicz, senior
account manager for printing hardware at GfK, said: “Though there will
be some value props, I expect a similar level of value decline in the
consumer printing market to that seen in 2007, with overall sales
declining as the key inkjet multi-functional segment continues to
mature.”