We’ve just received a letter from our main lamp supplier warning of some large lamp price increases. Aparently a shortage of the material known as Rare Earth Oxides (REO’s) on global markets has driven up prices on a whole range of produce from TV and computer screens to disc drives , catalytic converters and all fluorescent lighting products. REO’s are found in all fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent low energy lamps which is causing major implications to the lighting industry and prices are becoming more and more volatile. So far this year we have seen wholesale prices rise by up to 38% on linear tubes but more rises are not unlikely. The Lighting Centre has not made any increases on lamp retail prices so far this year but it is becoming likely that we may have to soon. September will bring the next set of price rises and we are expecting them to be significant so anyone looking to buy large numbers of low energy lighting should consider doing it sooner rather that later.