AC, TV, fridge, washing machine prices to rise up to 8 percent from October 1

Shoppers planning their Diwali and Dussehra purchases have a key piece of news to factor in. Air conditioners, LED TVs, washing machines, refrigerators and other consumer electronics are likely to get costlier from October 1, 2026. Several companies are preparing to pass on higher production costs to customers, and some brands have already confirmed the price hikes.

Industry officials say production costs have risen because of higher prices for copper, steel, aluminium and crude oil-based components, along with pressure on freight and the supply chain. Currency exchange rate volatility linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia was also cited as a factor. This will be the consumer electronics industry's third major price hike in 2026. Some companies will apply the new rates from October, while others are considering November.

AC prices are expected to see the steepest increase, of around 5 to 8 percent. Companies including Blue Star, Godrej Appliances, Haier, Daikin and Super Plastronics have announced or confirmed hikes of 4 to 10 percent across categories. Bosch Home Comfort, which makes LG and Hitachi brand ACs, has also raised AC prices by about 5 percent.

Blue Star managing director B. Thiagarajan said rising commodity prices have already pushed up AC and deep freezer prices by 5 to 8 percent. He said the pressure has come from higher prices of raw materials including copper, steel and plastic. This is Blue Star's third price hike in 2026. Production costs have risen about 15 percent compared with last year's festive season, but a roughly 10 percent GST benefit to customers keeps the net impact at around 5 percent higher.

Godrej Enterprises Group business head and executive vice president Kamal Nandi said another industry-wide price hike has become necessary, as commodity prices have jumped 8 to 10 percent since the last hike. He said the increase could range from 5 to 7 percent across categories, though each brand will implement it at a different time, some from October, some from November. Nandi said companies and dealers bought large volumes of old stock in August and September ahead of the hike, which could last 1 to 1.5 months in the distribution chain, so some products may still carry old rates until Diwali, after which new rates are likely to apply.

Haier India president N.S. Satish also said a price hike is necessary given rising production costs, or companies risk losses. Haier plans to raise room air conditioner prices by about 5 percent from October 1, and further hikes are possible after Diwali and again in January if input costs keep rising. LED TVs, washing machines and other appliances are also likely to see price increases of 2 to 3 percent.

According to Satish, copper prices have risen over the past year from about USD 8,000-9,000 per metric tonne to around USD 14,500, and could rise further. An AC uses about 3 to 4 kg of copper, so this directly affects production costs. Haier has planned a total hike of about 15 percent from now until January, 5 percent from October 1, another 5 percent around December, and a further 5 percent in January.

Daikin Airconditioning India president and managing director Kanwaljeet Jawa said the company has already raised AC prices by 8 to 10 percent from September 16, as copper prices have risen about 25 to 35 percent and the dollar has strengthened. Jawa said customer demand is currently good, but if conditions do not improve, demand could be affected over the long term.

Super Plastronics (SPPL), which makes the Thomson, Kodak and Blaupunkt TV brands, plans to raise TV prices by about 7 percent after October, having already raised prices of its other appliances by 4 to 5 percent. SPPL director Avneet Singh Marwah said customers expect discounts and promotional offers during the festive season, so higher prices could affect demand. Global instability and rising production costs could also affect consumer sentiment.

Panasonic Life Solutions India AC category product marketing and planning head Abhishek Verma said the company is monitoring changing market conditions and assessing the situation to strike the right balance between price and demand. The industry currently faces significant pressure from production costs, and Panasonic has not yet made a final decision on a price hike.

Videotex director Arjun Bajaj said rising freight costs and supply chain disruptions could set a new price level for TVs after Diwali. The difference could vary widely by screen size, with smaller screens seeing increases of up to 20 percent and larger screens up to 10 percent.

The period from Onam through Dussehra and Diwali is considered crucial for home appliance companies, with industry reports indicating this festive stretch accounts for about 30 to 40 percent of annual sales. Companies are watching closely how much the price hikes affect demand. Some fear the hikes could dent festive demand, while others believe dealers bought large stock at old rates in August and September, which could limit the immediate impact. Customers planning to buy an AC, TV, fridge or washing machine may benefit from purchasing before October, though the actual increase will vary by brand, product and stock levels.