Festive shopping gets costlier as brands plan to hike AC, TV and appliance prices from October 1

Consumer electronics and appliance makers are set to raise prices of air conditioners, LED TVs, washing machines and other products by 5-8% from October 1, as higher costs of copper, steel, aluminium and crude derivatives, along with currency volatility and rising freight expenses, squeeze margins, according to industry executives cited by PTI.The increase comes just ahead of the peak festive shopping season and will mark the industry's third round of price hikes in 2026.Air-conditioner prices are expected to rise 5-8%, while some manufacturers are also raising prices of washing machines, refrigerators and LED TVs by 3-4%, PTI reported, while some companies are still assessing the impact of higher input costs before taking a final call.Companies including Blue Star, Godrej Appliances, Haier, Daikin and Super Plastronics have already announced or confirmed price increases of 4-10% across categories.