Consumers planning to buy air-conditioners, televisions, washing machines or other home appliances during the upcoming festive season could have to pay more as manufacturers prepare another round of price increases from October 1.
Several major brands have announced or confirmed price hikes, with AC prices expected to rise by around 5-8%. Some televisions, refrigerators and washing machines could also become more expensive.
Third Price Hike Of 2026
The latest increase will be the third round of price hikes for several consumer electronics and appliance manufacturers this year.
Companies are facing higher costs for copper, aluminium, steel, plastics and crude-based materials. Freight expenses and currency movements are adding further pressure on manufacturing costs.
The increases are coming just before Navratri and Diwali, traditionally one of India’s biggest periods for consumer spending.
AC Prices To Rise 5-8%
Air-conditioners are expected to see some of the sharpest increases.
Blue Star has already raised AC and deep-freezer prices by around 5-8%, while Haier plans to increase room AC prices by approximately 5% from October 1.
Daikin has already implemented an 8-10% increase from September 16.
LG and Bosch Home Comfort, which owns the Hitachi air-conditioner brand, have also increased AC prices by around 5%.
Godrej Appliances has indicated that price increases of around 5-7% across categories are likely, although the timing could vary.
TV Prices Could Also Increase
Television buyers could also face higher prices during the festive season.
Super Plastronics, which sells brands including Thomson, Kodak and Blaupunkt in India, plans to increase TV prices by around 7% after October.
LG and other manufacturers are also dealing with higher input costs, although companies are taking different approaches depending on the category and market conditions.
Some industry estimates suggest smaller-screen televisions could see sharper increases than larger models.
Washing Machines And Refrigerators Affected
The price increases are not limited to ACs and TVs.
Haier plans to increase prices of washing machines and other categories by around 2-3%.
Some manufacturers are also raising refrigerator prices, with increases of around 3-4% expected across certain products.
The exact increase will vary by brand, product category and model.
Why Are Prices Going Up?
Copper has emerged as one of the biggest cost pressures for AC manufacturers.
Industry executives have pointed to a sharp increase in copper prices over the past year. Aluminium, steel and resin prices have also risen, while freight and supply-chain costs remain elevated.
For manufacturers, absorbing all these increases has become increasingly difficult.
Diwali Buyers Could Still Get Old Prices
There is some relief for consumers planning to shop immediately.
Dealers and distributors stocked up on products at older prices during August and September through pre-buying schemes.
This means some retailers could continue selling existing inventory at older prices even after October 1.
Manufacturers expect the impact of the new pricing to become more visible as these stocks are exhausted.
Haier Could Raise Prices Again
The October increase may not be the final one.
Haier has indicated that it could implement another 5% increase around December and another 5% in January if commodity costs remain elevated.
This could take its cumulative price increase to around 15% between October and January.
Festive Discounts May Offset Some Impact
The price increases arrive at a time when manufacturers and retailers are preparing aggressive festive promotions.
Consumers could therefore see a combination of higher official prices and discounts, cashback offers, exchange benefits and EMI schemes.
The final price paid by customers will depend on the brand, model, retailer and promotional offer.
Summary
ACs, TVs, washing machines and other home appliances are set to become costlier as several manufacturers raise prices from October 1. AC prices could rise 5-8%, while TVs and other appliances may see smaller increases. Higher copper, aluminium, steel, plastic, freight and other input costs are driving the hikes. However, old-price inventory and festive discounts could offer some relief to buyers before Diwali.
