LAHORE Soon after the blowing of cool breeze, the prices of heaters and geysers have increased, a survey conducted by TheNation revealed. However, the shopkeepers told this scribe that the change in weather compelled the consumers to purchase these products despite worst gas shortage and countrywide power outage. But sale and purchase of heaters and geysers are still on rise and even unaffordable prices could not stop them from purchasing. Whereas, the manufacturers said that the trend to buy such winter commodities was decreasing rapidly due to lack of interest of the people and high prices of such products. But, they are manufacturing these products in abundance despite less demand in the market as compare to previous years. Haji Muhammad Saleem, a manufacturer told this scribe that the manufacturers compelled to increase prices of these goods due to unusual raise in raw material prices and recent raise in petroleum goods. He said that prices of almost all the metal items such as iron, silver, brass and copper increased up to 10 to 20 percent as compare to previous year which forced them to increase the rates of these products. He said that increase in oil prices also forced the manufactures to increase prices despite knowing the poor purchasing power of the consumers. He said that prices of heaters and geysers increased 5 percent in only three months from October 2010 to January 2011. He said that the traders, dealing in raw material used to increase prices even before the beginning of winter season, which is the main reason of increasing prices. Saleem said that manufacturing cost also increased due to hike in electricity and gas tariffs along with the factory expenditures and wages of labour, which had almost doubled as compare to the previous year and that is why the manufacturers were compelled to increase prices. He said that there is a vast range of variety of winter items including locally manufactured heaters, geysers and cooking range which are not only expensive but also durable as compare to the products imported from China which are available in abundance but on very cheap rates. Saleem said that initially, prices of locally manufactured heaters started from Rs 250 to about Rs 80,000 which now start from Rs 275 to 88,000 after the increase in prices due to change in weather. However, an average quality gas heater is available from Rs 5,000 to 7,000, while an average quality geyser price start from Rs 8,000 to 11,000 while prices of branded geysers and manufactured by reputed companies start from Rs 15,000 to 25,000 this season, which are higher about 10 to 20 percent as compare to previous year. Nauman Ahmad, a trader of electric goods in Abid Market said that tendency to purchase these winter items had decreased as compare to the previous winter season. In fact increase in prices of such products marred the business this season. However, the consumers compelled to purchase heaters and geysers after temperature decreased and cool winds started blowing. Due to unaffordable prices of geysers and heaters, consumers seemed reluctant in buying these items as compare to previous years, he concluded.