New year - a new increase in the price of electronics and electrical appliances.

Market analysts warned at the end of last year that there would be a price difference between black and white equipment after global manufacturers announced an increase in chips.

Food prices in Bulgaria have risen by nearly 52% in a year

Consumers are already feeling the rise in the prices of some goods such as televisions, smartphones and tablets.

At the beginning of the new year, there is no shortage of people wishing to renew their old appliances.

Once they enter the stores, however, they begin to calculate how much deeper they have to reach into their pockets.

Residents of Stara Zagora, who until now have been heating with gas, have been looking for an alternative for months.

But it is unlikely that it will be much cheaper for them, since the prices of appliances have gone up.

A buying decision cannot be delayed for too long, say market analysts.

Forecasts are that prices of appliances for which chips are a defining component will continue to rise.

In the last two years alone, the average increase has been between 25 and 30%.

Both because of the pandemic and because of the increase in the price of the main parts that go into production.

"When it comes to computers, tablets, phones - the increase in the price of chips affects the price of the product with the largest percentage," Marin Zgurev, who is the manager and owner of an appliance store, told Nova TV.

The difference is not so noticeable with washing machines and refrigerators, because their price is determined by that of the metal and the volume of the appliances, the industry explains.

"A 20-30% increase in chips will not increase the price of large white goods by more than 1-2 percent maximum.

So far, the trend for the first half of the year, compared to the previous year, in white goods has jumped between 5 and 7 percent of manufacturers, by going through transport, this is reflected in the final price - between 10 to 12 percent in the customer price", he further commented Zgurev.

The surge in the price of chips also affects the automotive industry.

The industry also reports difficulties in production.

“Because of the lack of semiconductors and expectations this year are similar.

Difficulties with chip suppliers will continue," explains Alexander Kostadinov from the Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

And another COVID wave in China is having an impact on chip supplies.

Therefore, the industry does not rule out further delays.

"For electric cars, batteries are one of the most important components, and a large part of batteries come from China, so the expectations are not too rosy," adds Kostadinov.

Therefore, experts advise consumers not to postpone their technological purchases until their prices have gone even higher against the background of galloping inflation.

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