Foxconn raising manufacturing costs for iPhone, iPad?

Is Foxconn about to increase what it charges Apple (and other companies) to produce products like the iPhone and iPad?

Oct 13 (Reuters) - Hon Hai (2317.TW), the world's largest electronic parts maker, will raise prices from October for some clients, including Apple (AAPL.O), according to a Citibank analyst, a Taiwan newspaper reported on Wednesday.Citibank analyst Chang Kaiwei said Hon Hai would also raise prices for Nokia (NOK1V.HE), Microsoft (MSFT.O) and Sony Ericsson (ERICb.ST) (6758.T), helping to push up its fourth quarter profit, according to the Commercial Times newspaper.

If an iPhone was made in North America, it would probably cost $5000. Will Foxconn hold the line on prices at the expense of corporate profits (and, you know, maybe increasing their workers' standard of living?), will Apple give up margin and eat the increase to keep prices the same for consumers, or will will all be paying more for iPhone, iPad, and the other gadgets we love?

[New York Times]

Rene Ritchie
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Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.