There was no growth in the sales of fridges and ACs due to monsoon-like conditions

MUMBAI: Expectations of an increase in sales of hot season clothing, food items, refrigerators and air conditioners have now come down as temperatures have dropped following unseasonal rains in most parts of the country in March.

After experiencing extreme heat in February this year, the manufacturers of summer goods were hoping for an early summer this year and an increase in the sales of the goods, but in March, the rains and cold in most parts of the country saw a significant increase in the demand for air conditioners, freezers, ice creams and cold drinks. Not so, said the sources of the sales department of one of the big departmental stores.

The possibility of a longer summer due to El Nino effect this year is not ruled out, but the sales growth of fridges and ACs will depend on the weather conditions in the country in April-May, said a business head of a company.

Even though there was no increase in sales in March but we expect to see an increase in April-May, so we are not cutting production. In the face of climate change, there is great uncertainty in the atmosphere in the country. Due to which, it is time to cautiously increase the production of products like cold drinks and ice cream, said the sources of the beverages company.

AC sales in the second fortnight of March this year were down by twenty to twenty-two percent compared to the same period last year, a dealer said. 45 to 50 percent of the annual sales of equipment like AC-freezes are done in the period of March to June.