Festive shopping to get costlier: ACs, TVs and other appliances set for 8% price hike
Manufacturers across the consumer appliance sector are gearing up for price hikes, anticipating increases of 5% to 10% from October due to surging material and freight costs. Brands like Blue Star and Haier are adjusting their pricing strategies, especially with rising copper costs affecting multiple categories. Although existing stock may cushion the blow momentarily, new prices will kick in…
The upcoming holiday season is set to bring higher costs for many household appliances. Leading manufacturers have announced planned price increases of 5-8% for items like air-conditioners, LED TVs, and washing machines starting on October 1. The price hikes are attributed to rising costs of raw materials such as copper, steel, aluminum, and crude derivatives, as well as increased freight expenses and currency volatility due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia region.
This marks the third price increase for the industry in 2026, with previous hikes already occurring this year.
Companies such as Blue Star, Godrej Appliance, Haier, Daikin, and Super Plastronics have all confirmed or announced price increases ranging from 4-10% across various categories. LG and Bosch Home Comfort, which produces Hitachi-branded ACs, have also raised AC prices by approximately 5%. While companies like LG and Bosch Home Comfort have raised AC prices by around 5%, others are still assessing the full impact.
Blue Star's managing director B Thiagarajan noted that AC and deep-freezer prices have already increased by 5-8% due to higher commodity costs, marking the company's third price increase this year. Compared to last year, costs have risen by around 15% during the festive season, but GST benefits of about 10% available to consumers will offset roughly 5% of the increase.
Godrej Enterprises Group Business Head Kamal Nandi stated that another industry-wide increase was now "inevitable" as commodity prices have risen 8-10% since the previous revision. Price hikes of 5-7% across categories are expected, with implementation dates varying by brand.
The immediate impact on festive demand may be limited due to existing inventory stocked at older prices through pre-buying schemes in August and September. This inventory could remain available throughout Diwali, with pipelines lasting about a month to one-and-a-half months. Diwali typically contributes 30-40% of annual appliance sales, although some companies are concerned that higher prices could still affect festive purchases.
Haier plans a cumulative 15% increase between now and January, while Haier India President NS Satish said higher prices may somewhat impact sales but is ultimately necessary. Daikin and SPPL have also raised prices, with Daikin increasing by 8-10% and SPPL planning a 7% increase in TV prices after October. These price hikes are part of sustained industry-wide efforts to cope with rising commodity and freight costs.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
