Diwali shopping is getting more expensive this year, with prices of appliances, traditional sweets and dry fruits rising amid higher raw material cost…
1/7Home appliances and electronics become 3-7% costlier | Buying a new television or air conditioner could cost more this festive season. According to a Moneycontrol report, consumer durable companies, including Haier, LG, and Blue Star, have raised prices by about 3-7% across categories such as air conditioners and televisions, citing higher input and component costs. Havells India also plans to raise prices by 5-7% in the December quarter to offset higher raw material costs. (Image: AI-Generated)
2/7Traditional sweets and mithai prices rise 10-15% | Traditional sweets have also become more expensive ahead of Diwali as sweet makers face higher costs of milk, khoya, sugar, nuts and packaging. A spokesperson for a Delhi-based sweet shop chain told Moneycontrol that the business had increased prices by nearly 15% ahead of Diwali. Anjali Jain, who runs Jaipur-based Tyohaar Sweets, said the business had raised prices by 10-12% due to higher costs of raw materials, dry fruits, silver vark and packaging. Tyohaar Sweets has also started using seed mixes instead of dry fruits in some gifting hampers to keep them affordable. (Image: Canva)
3/7Pistachio prices nearly double since last Diwali | Pistachios have seen one of the steepest price increases among festive dry fruits. Gunjan Jain, president of the Nuts and Dry Fruits Council (India), told Moneycontrol that prices have nearly doubled since last Diwali. According to data shared by the council, pistachios are currently retailing at ₹1,500-2,100 per kg, compared with around ₹900 last Diwali. Jain attributed the increase to crop damage and lower yields in Australia and the US, along with higher freight charges linked to the conflict in West Asia. (Image: Canva)
4/7Almond prices increase nearly 35% | Almonds have also become more expensive over the past year. According to data provided by the Nuts and Dry Fruits Council (India) to Moneycontrol, prices have increased by nearly 35% since last Diwali. Almonds are currently retailing at ₹1,000-1,200 per kg, compared with ₹800-900 per kg last Diwali. (Image: Canva)
5/7Milk and sugar add to the cost of festive sweets | Rising milk and sugar prices are adding to the expenses of sweet manufacturers ahead of Diwali. Sources told Moneycontrol that sugar prices in Uttar Pradesh mandis have increased to ₹5,700 per quintal from ₹4,800 last month. Milk prices have also moved up. The Karnataka cabinet recently approved an increase of ₹8 per litre in Nandini milk prices, adding to the cost pressures faced by sweet makers. (Image: Canva)
6/7Everyday FMCG products also become more expensive | The rise in household expenses is not limited to festive shopping. Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, including Hindustan Unilever, Dabur and Marico, have raised product prices earlier this year to offset higher input costs, according to Moneycontrol. These increases are adding to household expenditure on everyday packaged consumer products, even as families manage their festive budgets. (Image: Canva)
7/7Consumers turn cautious as shopping costs rise | Higher prices are also influencing how consumers shop this festive season. Vijay Sales expects festive-season sales value to grow nearly 20%, but the increase in the number of units sold is likely to remain in single digits. Vijay Sales managing director Nilesh Gupta told Moneycontrol that nearly 70% of purchases are now being made through EMIs. He said consumers are becoming more rational about spending even as festive sales remain strong. Retailers are also seeing shoppers compare prices and product features more closely before making purchases, indicating a greater focus on value for money. (Image: AI-Generated)