Consumer durables, electronics post 30% growth

Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) today said the durables sector has registered a 30 per cent growth in the first quarter ended March this year over the same period a year ago.

"Overall the (consumer durables and electronics) industry has grown 30 per cent in the first quarter, (January - March) 2010," CEAMA said in a statement.

According to the industry body, the total size of consumer durables and electronics sector is around Rs 30,000 crore.

During the quarter, the sector has seen "phenomenal" sales, particularly in the display category, which includes flat panel displays, it said.

While flat panel display registered a growth of 70 per cent, AC sales increased by 50 per cent. The industry has also witnessed a 40 per cent healthy growth in home appliances business during the quarter, it added.

"The consumer sentiment has been very positive and upbeat with higher disposable income and a strong economy," CEAMA spokesperson Pradeep Kumar said.

He said due to increase in commodity prices like steel and copper, besides increase in VAT by a few states, appliances and ACs in particular saw a price rise.

This didn't become a deterrent though and almost all categories saw a handsome growth, he added.

"Due to early advent of summer, March and April saw an unprecedented sale of AC. Earlier, most of the households used to buy a single AC, now on an average there are two to three air conditioners per home," he said.