October 1 to Mark Big Price Rise of AC, TV, Fridge & Other Products; Check Possible New Costs; What is Behind the Third Hike in India in 2026?

Consumers planning to buy air-conditioners, televisions, refrigerators or washing machines may face enormous prices from October 1. Several manufacturers are preparing price increases, with air-conditioner prices expected to rise by 5-8%, while some other items could become 3-4% costlier.

Why are appliance prices rising?

Manufacturers are dealing with increased prices of key raw materials, including copper, aluminium and steel. Crude oil derivatives, used in plastics and other components, have also become more expensive. Higher freight costs are fuelling to the pressure.

The ongoing geopolitical situation owing to the West Asia War has also disrupted supply chains. Some shipments are facing port delays of 20-30 days, disrupting inventory planning and burdening costs for companies dependent on imported components.

ACs may see biggest increase

Air-conditioners are slated to record one of the major price increases. Industry reports signal that prices could rise 5-8% from October 1. Blue Star has already raised AC prices by 8%, while other manufacturers are preparing or implementing similar increases.

An AC priced at Rs 50,000 would cost Rs 4,000 more if the full 8% rise is passed on to consumers.

TVs, refrigerators and washing machines

The price pressure extends beyond air-conditioners. Some companies are raising prices of LED televisions, refrigerators and washing machines by around 3-4%, although the timing and enforcement differ across companies.

Haier India plans to boost room air-conditioner prices by around 5% from October 1 and has indicated 2-3% increases for products including LED TVs and washing machines. Super Plastronics, which markets Thomson, Kodak and Blaupunkt in India, plans to raise television prices by around 7% after October.

Will Diwali discounts disappear?

Price hikes do not necessarily signal that consumers will instantly pay more. Dealers made inventory ahead of the festive season, meaning products purchased earlier at lower prices could remain available for some time.

Producers and retailers are expected to use bank offers, financing schemes, bundled products and discounts to cater to festive demand. Consumers may thus find deals on older inventory even after October 1.

Why Is This the Third Price Hike in 2026?

The October increase marks the third round of consumer-durable price hikes in India in 2026, with cumulative increases in some categories reaching 16-18%. The immediate trigger is a sharp rise in global input costs. According to The Economic Times, copper prices have increased 34% this year, resin 17%, steel 24% and aluminium 16%. Logistics and energy costs, along with adverse foreign-exchange movements, have added further pressure on manufacturers.

The prolonged West Asia crisis has intensified these pressures by affecting energy prices, freight and supply chains. Copper, aluminium, steel and petrochemical-based materials are globally traded commodities, meaning Indian manufacturers remain exposed to international price movements even when appliances are assembled domestically. In the three months before the latest increase, copper rose about 10%, aluminium 5%, steel 13% and resin 18%, according to The Economic Times.

Another factor is India's incomplete localisation of appliance components. The share of locally sourced components varies considerably across categories, with televisions and room air-conditioners at the lower end and refrigerators and washing machines more localised. This means global commodity shocks can still feed into production costs through imported components and materials.

The timing is significant because Navratri and Diwali account for an estimated 25-30% of annual consumer-durables offtake. Manufacturers initially sought to limit increases to protect festive demand, but continued input-cost inflation has made another revision necessary.