Travel to laundry: Companiess pass on price hikes, budgets to get hit

MUMBAI: As the West Asia war rages on, India's middle class has begun bearing the brunt. From airfares to air-conditioners, home interiors, bottled water and even regular laundry services, companies across segments are starting to take price hikes to cope with inflating input costs on the back of of supply disruptions and soaring oil, derivatives of which are key to the manufacturing of a lot of components used in daily products. Much of the price increases will hit the markets from April, industry executives said.