'Black Friday' price warfare already starting, electronics prices dropping

CLEVELAND -- Even before Halloween, retailers are cutting prices and making "Black Friday" deals.  

Starting Friday (Oct. 30), Sears is offering Black Friday "doorbuster deals" almost a month before the "Day-after-Thanksgiving" sales.

"We are in a very difficult environment still," said Shawn DuBravac, chief economist and director of research for Consumers Electronics Association.

"Consumers are being very spendthrift. It will be a very deal-driven holiday season."

Electronic prices for televisions, camcorders and global positioning systems have already fallen in advance of the holiday season.

"Just last month, I had a 1080 42-inch television for $899," said hhgregg employee Sean Brown. "That same TV is on sale for $699."

At a Best Buy store in Cleveland, the price on some cell phones also dropped dramatically recently.

"(Those) four were all $100 not two or three weeks ago," said Best Buy mobile manager, Alex Ionta, while pointing to phones currently priced at $49.99.

DuBravac does not think lower, pre-holiday prices on electronics will rise before the official holiday retail season begins.

"Prices are coming down pre-Black Friday," DuBravac said. "Consumers in stores are looking for deals."