One has to wonder when forklift prices will start rising. Most manufacturers report strong demand as they continue to face supply issues. And as war drags on in Ukraine, the pressures on equipment makers, especially those in Europe, are increasing. Now, fuel and energy costs are rising fast, further adding to the cost of production.
We haven't yet heard of direct price increases at dealerships, but there is evidence that discounts have all but disappeared in a sellers' market. The situation for buyers is exacerbated by the fact that all suppliers are in the same position, so shopping around isn't likely to help in the way it does in "normal" times.
But, of course, there are always options. Fleet managers can opt to keep their older equipment for longer, run longer shifts to optimise the use of equipment, choose rentals to help with demand peaks, and consider buying used equipment which is experiencing a growth surge.