When manufacturers say that now is the time to buy, buyers may be sceptical. But when an informed analyst makes the call, it may be time to act.
We report this week that IBISWorld is tipping price rises in the next three years, primarily on the back of increases in the cost of steel. The report predicts rises of over 2% per year.
But, of course, there's a downside to buying now - you may miss out on more advanced technology. There's no doubt that today's forklift is a notable improvement on the models around three years ago, and we can only assume that further improvements await.
So, it's a balancing act - weighing up a price increase against the safety, efficiency and environmental improvements that we are sure to see.