What Got Costlier From October 1, 2026: 9 Price Hikes Hitting Your Wallet
Commercial LPG, jet fuel, ACs and TVs, cars, SBI ATM withdrawals and more just got more expensive, right before the festive season. Here’s what went up, by how much, what didn’t, and how to soften the hit.
If October already feels more expensive, it isn’t your imagination. A string of price hikes kicked in on October 1, 2026, from the cylinder your local restaurant cooks on to the AC you were planning to buy this Diwali. Some of these hit your wallet directly. Others will reach you quietly, through restaurant bills, flight tickets and festive shopping. Here’s everything that got costlier from October 1, and the good news on what didn’t.
🌍 Why now? Most of these hikes trace back to the same cause: tensions in West Asia have pushed up crude oil prices, and with them the cost of metals like copper and aluminium, plastics, and freight. Companies are passing those costs on just as festive demand peaks.
October 2026 Price Tracker: What Changed
| Item | Before | From Oct 1 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial LPG, 19 kg (Delhi) | ₹2,747.50 | ₹2,810 | ▲ ₹62.50 |
| Jet fuel / ATF (Delhi, per litre) | ~₹121 | ~₹137 | ▲ ₹16 (13%) |
| Air conditioners | — | — | ▲ 5–8% |
| TVs, fridges, washing machines | — | — | ▲ 3–4% |
| Skoda cars | — | — | ▲ up to 1.2% |
| SBI salary account: free other-bank ATM uses | 10/month | 5/month | ▲ ₹23 + GST after |
| New NPS account | — | ₹200 one-time | ▲ New fee |
| CNG, Mumbai (per kg) | ₹86 | ₹88 | ▲ ₹2 |
| Domestic LPG, 14.2 kg (Delhi) | ₹942 | ₹942 | ● No change |
| Petrol / diesel (Delhi) | ₹102.12 / ₹95.20 | ₹102.12 / ₹95.20 | ● No change |
“Before” for commercial LPG and CNG is worked out from the reported increase. Appliance and car hikes vary by brand and model.
The 9 Things That Got Costlier From October 1, 2026
1. Commercial LPG cylinders
+₹62.50 to ₹70Oil companies raised the price of the 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder, used by restaurants, dhabas, hotels and sweet shops, in all major cities:
How it reaches you: Not on your home cylinder, but possibly on your restaurant bill, takeaway order or Diwali sweets, as food businesses pass on fuel costs.
2. Home LPG, if you skipped Aadhaar authentication
~₹210 more/cylinderThe domestic cylinder price itself is unchanged at ₹942 in Delhi. But from October 1, you get the subsidised rate only if your connection has passed biometric Aadhaar authentication. Without it, you pay full market price, roughly ₹210 more per cylinder based on September’s subsidy.
How to avoid it: Check your status in your gas company’s app or call 1800-2333-555. Full guide: LPG Subsidy Aadhaar Rule 2026.
3. Jet fuel, and maybe your flights
+₹16/litre (13%)Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in Delhi jumped from about ₹121 to ₹137 per litre, a 13% rise. Fuel makes up to 40% of an airline’s operating costs. No airline has announced a fare hike or fuel surcharge yet, but higher festive-season fares are a real possibility.
What to do: If you’re flying home for Diwali, book sooner rather than later, before any surcharge and the festive rush both hit.
4. ACs, TVs, fridges and washing machines
+3% to 8%- Air conditioners: up 5–8%. LG and Hitachi raised AC prices by about 5%.
- LED TVs, refrigerators, washing machines: up 3–4%.
- Blue Star, Godrej, Haier, Daikin and Super Plastronics have announced hikes of 4–10% across categories.
This is the industry’s third price hike of 2026, driven by costlier copper, aluminium, steel and plastics, plus freight. Festive season accounts for 30–40% of annual appliance sales, so the timing stings.
What it means: A ₹45,000 AC could cost about ₹2,250–₹3,600 more, and a ₹40,000 fridge around ₹1,200–₹1,600 more.
5. Cars
Up to 1.2% (Skoda)Skoda raised prices across its range (Kylaq, Slavia, Kushaq and Kodiaq) by up to 1.2%, capped at ₹20,000, from October 1. Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Hyundai have also raised prices recently, citing input costs, and Kia is expected to make selective increases.
What to do: Ask your dealer whether a booking made now locks in the old price, and compare festive discounts. They often outweigh a 1% hike.
6. SBI ATM withdrawals
₹23 + GST each- SBI salary accounts: free transactions at other banks’ ATMs cut from 10 to 5 a month. After that, ₹23 plus GST per cash withdrawal and ₹11 plus GST per balance check or mini statement.
- SBI basic (BSBD) accounts: 4 free withdrawals a month, then ₹15 plus GST each. Aadhaar-based (AePS) withdrawals now count towards the limit.
What it means: Five extra other-bank withdrawals a month now cost about ₹136 a month, or over ₹1,600 a year.
7. Opening an NPS account
₹200 one-timePFRDA introduced a one-time onboarding charge of ₹200 per PRAN for new NPS and NPS Lite subscribers, or ₹100 for fully digital sign-ups. It’s recovered from your account, not paid upfront. Existing subscribers aren’t charged again.
Tip: If you’re opening an NPS account, sign up fully online to pay ₹100 instead of ₹200.
8. CNG in some cities
+₹2 to ₹7/kgCNG went up by ₹2/kg in Mumbai (to ₹88) and by ₹7/kg in Bihar (to ₹93). Delhi-NCR is unchanged at ₹86.98, and Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal actually saw cuts. PNG for home cooking is unchanged in major cities.
What it means: A Mumbai CNG car or auto using 60 kg a month pays about ₹120 more.
9. Big UPI payments to shops (from Oct 15)
0.4% for merchantsFrom October 15, merchants pay a 0.4% fee on UPI payments above ₹2,000, capped at ₹300 for payments above ₹75,000. Small merchants receiving up to ₹1 lakh a month through UPI QR are exempt, and person-to-person UPI stays free.
How it reaches you: You aren’t charged directly. But some larger merchants may nudge you towards cash or other modes for big bills.
The Good News: What Did NOT Get Costlier
🧮 What Will October’s Hikes Cost You?
Fill in only what applies. Leave the rest at 0.
Uses mid-points: AC 6.5%, other appliances 3.5%, cars 1%, and ₹23 + 18% GST per extra ATM withdrawal for 12 months.
6 Ways to Soften October’s Price Hikes
Stack festive sale offers on appliances
Big online sales start around October 8–9. Bank card discounts and exchange offers can more than cancel out a 3–8% hike.
Ask dealers about price protection
Some car and appliance dealers honour old prices on bookings or orders made before a hike. Ask before you pay.
Book festive flights early
Lock in fares before airlines react to the ATF hike and before the Diwali rush.
Use your own bank’s ATM or UPI
SBI customers should use SBI ATMs, or skip cash with UPI, to stay within the free limit.
Finish LPG Aadhaar authentication
It’s the easiest ~₹210 per cylinder you’ll save this month.
Watch the RBI decision on October 7
The repo rate is at 5.25%, and some economists have flagged the possibility of a hike. That would make home and car loan EMIs costlier too.
The Bottom Line
October’s hikes are spread thin: a few hundred rupees here, a few percent there. For most households, the biggest risks are the ones you can control. Finish your LPG authentication, plan ATM use around SBI’s new limit, and time big appliance or car purchases around festive offers rather than paying full post-hike prices. Fuel at the pump and your PPF rate are holding steady, at least for now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources: Business Standard, Dainik Jagran, Goodreturns (appliances), Goodreturns (CNG/PNG), Goodreturns (SBI ATM), Upstox, NewsBytes (Skoda), Angel One (small savings). Prices as of October 1, 2026 and subject to change.
