I find it incredibly hard to believe (even faintly) that Champion plans to *increase* the price of a generator that has now been on store shelves for some time.
Heck, with Costco in Canada dropping the price to $399 in a few weeks that lies as proof alone that even at that price there's still profit in it for the retailer - Costco does NOT subscribe to the loss-leader method of retailing.
Perhaps Champion plans to adjust their published MSRP or something...but that by no means that the actual retailers are going to follow suit...and increasing the wholesale costs to a level that would justify (or require) a $699 price tag would be suicide for Champion.
Sorry, Not biting on that story.
