Prices of TV and home appliance are set to increase as the consumer durable makers are reviewing their selling price post festive season sales amid tight margins.
In order to ensure smooth festive season sale, consumer durable manufacturers had temporarily absorbed impacts on their input costs, following the depreciation of the Indian rupee against US dollar and increase in custom duty. Panasonic India is set to increase the prices of its products by up to 7%, while some others players have already increased it.
“Over the last few months, the rupee has continually risen which in turn is impacting our inputs costs. While we try to absorb maximum costs for our consumers, but given the market situation, we will be forced to hike the prices by 5% to 7% from next month,” Panasonic India President and CEO Manish Sharma told PTI.
Expressing similar sentiments, Haier India President Eric Braganza said: “We have ensured that the price rise comes into effect post the festive season since India tends to purchase consumer durables extensively during this time.
In India, festive period, starts from Onam and is followed by Dussehra and lasts till Diwali and accounts for nearly one third sales of the industry.
According to the Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA), there was an increase of around 3% to 4% in prices in September, however, it did not get materilaised.
“Though the MRP was increased, the price hike undertaken in September did not really get effective, due to sluggish demand and brands trying to garner maximum share in the market place,” said CEAMA President Kamal Nandi.