Electronics sales surge 20% amid festival cricket fervor

The appliances and consumer electronics industry anticipates 18-20% value-driven growth over this holiday season, which coincides with the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, buoyed by a strong start with Onam in the southern regions. 

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For the first time since 1987, the cricket World Cup tournament falls during India's festival season. The industry anticipates that the nation's most popular sport will act as a catalyst, boosting sales of TV, particularly those with larger screen sizes, as well as audio products like battery-powered party speakers, soundbars, wireless headphones, and ear buds. TV makers, including LG Electronic, Panasonic and Thomson, expect increased number of replacements of conventional and small-size TV screens with large-size smart TV panels above 55 inch screen size. Premium and ultra-premium ranges of QLED and OLED TVs are also expected to be in much demand during the World Cup from October 5 to November 19.The industry expects overall sales growth of 18 to 20 per cent, and in continuation of the previous year a higher growth of over 30 per cent from premium products such as large screen TVs, higher capacity refrigerators and washing machines.