AC TV and Fridge Prices Rise From October 1 What to Buy Before the Hike

If an AC, fridge, TV or washing machine is on your Diwali list, this is the week to act. Several big appliance brands are raising prices from October 1, and the timing could not be trickier, landing right when festive shopping is at its peak.

Air conditioners take the hardest hit, going up by around 5 to 8 percent. Refrigerators, washing machines and LED TVs are looking at a gentler rise of 3 to 4 percent. Brands that have confirmed or signalled the move include Blue Star, Godrej, Haier, LG, Daikin and Super Plastronics. Daikin has already gone ahead, raising prices 8 to 10 percent from mid-September, and Haier has said more hikes could follow after Diwali and again in January.

The reasons are the ones the industry keeps repeating, and they are real. Copper, which an AC uses a lot of, has climbed steeply over the past year. Steel, aluminium and plastic have gone up too, freight is costlier, and a weaker rupee against the dollar makes imported parts dearer. This is already the third price increase of 2026, so the pressure has been building for months.

The catch that works in your favour

Here is the part most shoppers miss. The October 1 increase is a factory-gate hike, not an overnight jump on the price tag at your local showroom. Dealers stocked up heavily through August and September at the older rates, so plenty of that cheaper inventory is still sitting in stores. Industry estimates suggest it could last roughly a month to six weeks, which means a big chunk of Diwali buying may still go through at old prices. The real bite comes later, once the pre-hike stock runs out.

So what should you actually do

If you were already planning to buy, there is little reason to hold off. With the festive sales on, you get a pre-hike price and a festive discount at the same time, and that is about as good as this season gets. Stick to larger stores and the big online platforms where you can, since high-volume sellers are the ones most likely to still be clearing older stock. And if a salesperson tells you a particular model is already on the new price, check one more store before you pay. That single question, old stock or new, could save you a few thousand rupees.