If you've had your eye on a flat-panel television, this holiday season might be just the right time to finally go ahead and buy it.

As Black Friday kicks off the shopping season, prices on flat-panel televisions are plunging to new lows -- good news for consumers with jobs and money to spend.

Electronics retailers are hoping those low prices will jump start business during a year with no hot, must-have gadgets and a recession that has budget-conscious consumers focused on deals.

For the first time, big-screen plasma televisions (50 inches or larger) are advertised for under $1,000. Large LCD televisions (in the 32-inch to 42-inch range) are available below $500.

''Those are pretty important psychological price barriers for most consumers,'' said Paul Gagnon, director of North American TV research for DisplaySearch, a market intelligence firm. ``Flat-panel televisions are now approaching prices that would be considered by many consumers to be mainstream. That really opens up the possibility of a lot of consumers taking advantage of that this holiday season.''

The affordable prices -- generally 20 percent to 40 percent off last year -- span the retail landscape. For Black Friday, BrandsMart USA and Wal-Mart have a 50-inch Samsung plasma television on sale for $798. Best Buy has a 32-inch Dynex LCD television for $399.99, while CompUSA has a 42-inch LG for $599.99.

Don't worry, even if you didn't camp out Thanksgiving night for Friday's early bird bargains, you may not be out of luck. Industry experts say there's a good chance shoppers will find plenty of deals throughout the holiday season as retailers keep pricing competitive to move merchandise.

SWITCH TO DIGITAL

Retailers hope consumers will be in the market for new TVs because of the February switch from analog to digital airwaves. On Feb. 17, non-digital TVs that don't get their signal from cable or satellite services, or from a converter box, will no longer work.

Flat-panel TV sales may also get a boost as consumers stay home more and choose to entertain at home.

''Consumers may not buy a new car or jewelry this year or go on an expensive vacation,'' said Gilbert Fiorentino, chief executive of Miami-based CompUSA and TigerDirect. ``A television is something they can take home and enjoy. People want to make their money more tangible during tough economic times.''

Even with the expectation that cheap TVs will entice consumers, the consumer electronics industry is bracing for a difficult year.

`DIFFICULT CLIMATE'

Part of the problem is a lack of compelling new products. The newest items are Blu-Ray DVD players and some new smart phones.

''In 15 years the consumers electronics industry has never had negative growth, but that's something we're likely to see this year,'' said Stephen Baker, electronics industry analyst for NPD Group. ``Consumers have lots and lots of electronics already. The computer I have does everything I need, so why do I have to upgrade, even if a new one would be a little faster?''

Best Buy said earlier this month that sales between November and February could plummet anywhere from 5 percent to 15 percent. Chief Executive Brad Anderson called it the ''most difficult climate'' the 42-year-old company has ever seen.

Competitor Circuit City filed for bankruptcy protection in November. Sound Advice's parent company, Tweeter Home Entertainment, abruptly decided earlier this month to shut down all of its stores, including Sound Advices in Aventura, Plantation, Fort Lauderdale and Coral Gables.

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