Planning to buy an AC, TV, refrigerator or washing machine this festive season? Your shopping budget may need a little more room.
Several consumer appliance and electronics companies in India are raising prices from October 2026, with increases of around 3% to 8% across different categories. Some brands have indicated hikes of up to 10% on selected products.
This is another price increase for the consumer durables industry in 2026, coming just as festive demand begins to pick up.
Which Appliances Are Becoming More Expensive?
Air conditioners are expected to see one of the biggest increases, with prices rising around 5% to 8% in many cases.
Televisions, refrigerators and washing machines could see increases of around 3% to 4%, although the exact increase will vary by brand and model. Some TV manufacturers have indicated higher increases for selected products.
The actual price you pay will also depend on the retailer's existing inventory. Older stock bought before the price revision may still be available at previous prices for some time.
Why Are Appliance Prices Increasing?
The main reason is rising manufacturing and operating costs.
The prices of important materials such as:
Copper
Aluminium
Steel
Plastics and crude-oil derivatives
have increased, putting pressure on appliance manufacturers.
Higher freight costs and currency fluctuations are adding further pressure to companies' costs. Manufacturers are therefore passing part of these additional costs on to customers.
What Does This Mean for Your Budget?
Suppose you are planning to buy a ₹50,000 appliance.
If its price increases by 5%, the new price could be around ₹52,500.
That means an additional ₹2,500 for the same product.
For a ₹1 lakh purchase, a 5% increase means another ₹5,000.
The actual increase will depend on the product, brand and retailer, but even a small percentage can make a noticeable difference when buying expensive appliances.
Should You Buy Now or Wait?
If you were already planning to purchase an appliance for your home, it may be worth comparing prices before and after the price revision.
However, don't buy something you don't need simply because prices are increasing.
Festive sales can still offer discounts, cashback and exchange benefits. Retailers may also have older inventory at previous prices.
So instead of looking only at the discount percentage, compare the final price, warranty, exchange value and financing cost before making a decision.
Will Prices Rise Again?
There is also a possibility of further price increases if commodity, freight and currency-related pressures continue.
Some industry players have indicated that additional increases could come after Diwali or later in the financial year if input costs remain high.
The Bottom Line
The festive season may bring attractive offers, but consumers should not assume that every appliance will become cheaper during sales.
With manufacturers facing higher input costs, ACs, TVs, refrigerators and washing machines are becoming more expensive.
If an appliance is already on your shopping list, compare prices early and calculate the total cost before making the purchase.
A festive discount is useful only when the final price is actually lower.
