Recently, the reporter learned from some air conditioning stores in Gome, Suning and other cities that air conditioning prices have risen to varying degrees since the first quarter of this year, affected by rising raw material prices. Chen Jitian, an industry insider engaged in air conditioning sales and installation projects in Zhongshan for more than 10 years, told reporters that with the arrival of the traditional May Day peak season, it is expected that further air conditioning price increases are more likely this year.

Rising material and transportation costs have pushed up factory prices for air conditioners

The refrigeration market reporter learned that every year from April, the air conditioning market began to enter the peak season. At the same time, the price of air conditioning has not decreased but increased. Chen Jitian told reporters: "From the end of December last year to the beginning of January this year, including the United States, TCL, Changhong and other brands have issued a notice of factory price increases." First, due to the general rise in prices of bulk materials in the domestic market; Second, the state introduced the "three limits" policy on highways, causing packaging and logistics costs to increase significantly; Third, last year, the government vigorously shut down enterprises that failed to meet environmental standards, which led to a tight supply of home appliance parts." Mr Chen said. On the other hand, he expects that from the middle of April, due to the increase in production costs, air conditioning demand and other factors, the price of air conditioning will go up, of which the price increase of wall-mounted air conditioning is expected to be within 150 yuan, cabinet air conditioning is estimated to be within 350 yuan. With the arrival of the sales season from May to September, air conditioning prices are firmer.

"According to past experience, it is more cost-effective to buy air conditioners before May Day every year." Gome Electrical appliances torch district East town road store, a sales consultant Miss Zhao told reporters, because during this period of sales of air conditioning is mainly last year's inventory, so the price is still maintained at last year's level, but with the inventory empty, a new round of arrival of air conditioning prices will naturally rise.

Intelligent and healthy air conditioners are favored by consumers

The reporter learned from Gome electrical appliances, Suning Yunshang and other home appliance stores that intelligence and health have become a big selling point for air conditioners this year.

"Air conditioning intelligence mostly refers to connecting the air conditioner to the mobile phone, and using the mobile phone to control the air conditioner with wifi to turn on and off." Ms. Zhao introduced that inverter air conditioners have gradually become the mainstream of the market, and the newly added intelligent functions have become a selling point to attract consumers. For example, in terms of experience, some brands of air conditioners also add a human body sensing function, which can adjust the air conditioner temperature according to the human body temperature. However, at present, the general intelligent air conditioners are relatively high-end, and the price is generally about 4000 yuan.

In addition, the reporter also learned that many air conditioning brands have also launched anti-bacterial and self-cleaning products. For example, at present, Haier self-cleaning air conditioners absorb dust by freezing frost, and then discharge stains through condensate water, which solves the problem of manually cleaning the air conditioner condenser in the past. As for TCL, by adding titanium metal coating to the condenser, it reduces health problems such as mold in the inner machine. Chen Jitian said that today's high-end air conditioners pay more attention to air purification function, many products through fine filters, porous ceramic filters and other effective purification of large particles, formaldehyde, bacteria and other pollutants. Such air conditioners act as "air purifiers + air conditioners" two kinds of machines, which effectively save costs for consumers.