Metals to crude oil: Consumers face the brunt of commodities price surge

Durables makers hike prices to offset input costs

Over the past one month, consumer durables makers have been silently increasing product prices to offset input cost pressures. Two rounds of price hikes, in the range of 5-6 per cent each, have already happened. If inflationary pressures continue to grow, another round of hikes may be inevitable just before the onset of summer, according to companies.
 
Analysts at brokerage JPMorgan in a recent report said commodities across the board -- from metals to agri-products to crude oil -- appeared to have entered a boom period. This is visible in their prices.
 
Consider this: Prices of metals such