Finally, something we can look forward to when it comes to prices! Some things will start drop in 2012, and these are the first 5 we can look forward to!

Consumer Electronics

Prices typically drop in January and February as manufacturers introduce the   latest in computers, televisions and other devices. That's likely to accelerate   this year as stores look to better compete with web sites, Green says. TV prices in particular continue to drop. During the last few   months of 2011 the average price of a 42" LCD screen fell below $500 for the   first time, reports market research firm NPD Group. In 2010, the average price   was closer to $600.

Shoppers may find that the deals don't extend to all orders or categories,   says Lindsay Sakraida, features director of deal-tracking site DealNews.com. Shortages have   increased prices on components such as hard drives. Other items are cheap   because they aren't worth it: a standalone GPS, for example, is now largely   redundant for smartphone users, she says.

Text-Message Plans

With the introduction of Apple's iMessage and other apps that let consumers message each other for free, experts say there's little reason   to shell out $10 to $50 per month for a text-message bundle. At the least that   could put an extra $120 back in the budget for 2012.

Just don't expect it to stay there. The average smartphone user consumed 435   MB of data per month during the first quarter of 2011, according to Nielsen.   That's up 89% compared with the previous year and well above the 200MB threshold   for AT&T's and Verizon's cheapest data plans. Verizon also nixed its   unlimited data plan this year, while AT&T introduced a plan to throttle the   speed of its heaviest users.

Travel to Europe

The European debt crisis may be a boon for travelers: one U.S. dollar currently buys 0.76 euro,   up from 0.69 euro on Sept. 1. That's enough to give travelers an edge on hotels   and daily expenses, says Melissa Klurman, a contributing editor for   Travelocity.

The problem: rising fuel prices and airline capacity cuts have kept   international fares moving higher. The crisis and in turn, the euro's value --   could also stabilize next year, diminishing savings for travelers who book well   in advance, Plunkett says. The Continent may also be less hospitable than in   years past. "European workers are disgruntled, so you might also run into a   strike or two," he says.

Wine

Bargain bottles are becoming more prevalent as boutique wineries spring back   and consumers curtail consumption, Sakraida says. "People are now less likely to   spend over $30 a bottle, so wineries are focusing on lower price points," she   says. A number of new flash-sale sites also offer high-end wines at discounts of as much as 50%.

Experts say some sales and low-priced bottles may mask so-so vintages, so   it's still important to read reviews before shelling out for a case.

Interest Rates

Consumers planning to buy a house or a car can expect rates to stay low and   maybe even go a little lower through mid-2012, Plunkett says. "This low   interest-rate environment we're in is going to be encouraged by the Federal   Reserve," he says.

Those savings, however, might be the only break purchasers get. Automakers   have projected an increase in sales next year, which could lead to sparser   incentives, he says. And that same low-rate environment has also pushed down   yields on checking and savings accounts, according to rate-tracking sites   DepositAccounts.com and Bankrate.com. "You might as well put your money in your   pillow," Plunkett says.