[tacticalogic]

I'm just speculating, but it's apparent that somewhere along the way somebody predicted much better sales figures than they're seeing or they wouldn't be having to cut back on the production schedule. China has become their biggest market, but by all the accounts I've seen their economy is going through a period of contraction and I'd expect that to affect sales of what I'd think would be a substantial luxury item for the average Chinese.

Like I said, I'm just speculating and I'd be open to any other explanation that makes more sense.

[dayglored]

I think your speculation about China's contracting economy has merit, and I don't have a better description of the situation.

I do recall that in the past, Apple has been caught by unexpected large demand at a new product release, and their customers got disgruntled about it. Ramping production UP is harder and takes more time than cutting it DOWN. Finding component sources and assembly facilities takes months; slowing build rates can be done in days.

So perhaps -- perhaps -- Apple decided to get ahead of the bulge and have production high enough that they could, for once, cut back and relax rather than have to scramble and hustle with hair on fire. One wouldn't want to lose the opportunity to deliver product to a China-size market if it's there. If it doesn't materialize, one can back off with relatively little pain (by comparison).

But of course, that slowdown action is interpreted as The Sky Is Falling by those who make money when Apple sneezes.

Who knows what's really going down... not I.