Kolkata: Consumers planning to buy air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators or other home appliances during the upcoming festive season may have to spend more. Several consumer electronics and appliance manufacturers in India are increasing prices as higher raw material, freight and other input costs put pressure on production expenses.
Across categories, price increases of around 3% to 8% are expected, with air conditioners seeing some of the sharper revisions. Daikin has already raised AC prices by 8-10%, while Haier has announced a hike of around 5% for room air conditioners from October 1.
AC Prices See Major Increase
Air conditioners are among the products most affected by the latest round of price revisions. Blue Star has already increased prices of ACs and deep freezers by 5-8% because of higher commodity costs.
Haier India is raising room AC prices by around 5% from October 1, while Daikin increased AC prices by 8-10% from September 16. LG and Bosch Home Comfort have also raised AC prices by around 5%, according to industry reports.
As a result, the final price increase for buyers will vary depending on the brand and model.
TVs and Washing Machines May Also Cost More
Television buyers could also see higher prices during the festive shopping period. Haier has confirmed a 2-3% increase for LED TVs, while Super Plastronics (SPPL), which sells brands including Thomson, Kodak and Blaupunkt, is planning further price increases.
According to industry reports, smaller-screen televisions could see increases of up to 20%, while larger-screen models may become around 10% more expensive, depending on the size and category.
Washing machines are also expected to become costlier. Haier has indicated a 2-3% increase across categories including washing machines, while some other manufacturers are considering price revisions of around 3-4% for washing machines, refrigerators and LED TVs.
However, the exact increase is not uniform across all brands and products.
Why Are Appliance Prices Increasing?
Manufacturers have pointed to higher input costs as the main reason behind the latest price increases. Copper, steel and aluminium have become more expensive, while crude-oil derivatives and freight costs have also added to production and distribution expenses. Currency fluctuations are putting additional pressure on companies that depend on imported components or materials.
The ongoing West Asia crisis has also been cited by industry executives as a factor affecting commodity prices, supply chains and currency movements.
Blue Star Managing Director B Thiagarajan said the company’s costs are around 15% higher compared with last year’s festive season. He also noted that consumers are receiving GST-related benefits of about 10%, bringing the estimated net impact to roughly 5%.
The latest price revisions come ahead of the peak festive shopping period, when demand for electronics and home appliances typically rises. Some retailers may still have inventory purchased at older prices, meaning buyers could find selected products at previous prices until such stock is exhausted.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information and industry reports available at the time of publication. Actual prices may differ by brand, model, retailer and available stock. Readers should check the latest price and offer details with the manufacturer or authorised seller before making a purchase.