Cars, bikes, phones, TV sets and ACs to pinch pockets more this festive season

Brace yourself for another round of price hikes in cars, two-wheelers, smartphones, laptops, televisions, refrigerators and air-conditioners. Thanks to an unrelenting increase in input and freight costs, big-ticket consumption items are set for an unprecedented fourth to fifth round of price increases this year, ahead of peak sales time – the festive season.

“We have never seen worse times than these on costs,” said one manufacturer.

Consumer electronic prices may see a spike of up to 8%, whereas cars and two-wheelers may see a rise of 1-2% in the coming weeks. Cars and two-wheeler prices have seen hikes in instalments of 10-15% on several occasions in the past 12-18 months.