New Delhi: Consumers planning to purchase air conditioners, televisions, washing machines and other household appliances during the festive season may have to pay more as several leading manufacturers are preparing to raise prices from October 1, 2026.
Industry executives said appliance and consumer electronics companies are planning price increases of around 5 to 8 per cent in response to higher input costs, including copper, aluminium, steel and crude oil derivatives, along with increased freight expenses and currency volatility.
The latest revision would mark the third round of price increases in 2026 for several manufacturers.
AC Prices Expected to Rise 5-8 Per Cent
Air conditioners are expected to see some of the sharpest increases, with manufacturers indicating price hikes of approximately 5-8 per cent.
Some companies are also raising prices of washing machines, refrigerators and LED televisions by around 3-4 per cent, although the extent and timing of revisions may vary across brands.
Blue Star Managing Director B Thiagarajan said the company had already increased prices of air conditioners and deep freezers by 5-8 per cent due to rising commodity costs.
He said the cost of commodities such as copper, steel and plastics has increased substantially, making this the company’s third price revision of the year.
According to Thiagarajan, appliance costs are around 15 per cent higher compared with last year’s festive season. However, he said the impact on consumers could be partly offset by GST-related benefits.
Companies Announce Fresh Price Revisions
Several major manufacturers have either announced or confirmed price increases across categories.
Haier India plans to raise room air-conditioner prices by around 5 per cent from October 1 and has indicated a possible cumulative increase of around 15 per cent between October and January if input costs continue to rise. The company also expects prices of LED TVs and washing machines, among other products, to increase by around 2-3 per cent.
Godrej Enterprises Group executive Kamal Nandi said another industry-wide price revision had become necessary following an 8-10 per cent increase in commodity prices since the previous revision. He indicated that price increases of around 5-7 per cent could be implemented across categories, with the timing differing among companies.
Daikin Airconditioning India has already raised prices by around 8-10 per cent from September 16, according to Chairman and Managing Director Kanwaljeet Jawa.
Companies including Blue Star, Godrej Appliances, Haier, Daikin and Super Plastronics have reported price increases across various product categories. LG and Bosch Home Comfort, which owns the Hitachi air-conditioner brand, have also reportedly raised AC prices by around 5 per cent.
Panasonic, meanwhile, said it is assessing market conditions before deciding on any increase.
Festive Demand Faces Price Pressure
The timing of the price revisions is significant as the period from Onam through Dussehra and Diwali typically accounts for a substantial share of annual appliance sales.
However, manufacturers and industry executives expect existing inventory to provide some relief to consumers during the early part of the festive season. Dealers and distributors stocked products at older prices through pre-buying arrangements during August and September.
Godrej’s Kamal Nandi said distribution pipelines could carry older-priced inventory for roughly one to one-and-a-half months, potentially covering much of the Diwali period before revised prices become more widely visible.
At the same time, manufacturers acknowledge that higher prices could affect consumer demand, particularly as buyers generally expect discounts and promotional offers during the festive season.
Copper and Freight Costs Add to Pressure
Rising copper prices have emerged as a major concern for air-conditioner manufacturers because copper is an important component in AC production.
Haier’s NS Satish said copper prices had risen sharply over the past year, increasing manufacturing costs. He noted that an air conditioner typically requires several kilograms of copper.
Daikin’s Jawa also pointed to higher copper prices, a stronger US dollar and rising commodity costs as factors contributing to pricing pressure.
Television manufacturers are facing additional challenges from freight and supply-chain costs. Super Plastronics plans to increase television prices by around 7 per cent after October, while some appliance prices have already risen by 4-5 per cent.
Videotex Director Arjun Bajaj said television prices could see further increases after Diwali, with smaller-screen models potentially facing sharper increases depending on screen size and market conditions.
With manufacturers facing continued input-cost pressures, consumers looking to purchase major appliances during the festive season may therefore see a widening gap between current and post-festive-season prices.
