Shoppers wanting home whiteware or electronics bargains are being warned to buy now or pay up to 25% more in the new year.
Suppliers have told retailers of fridges, televisions, microwave ovens and other items prices will rise between 10% and 25% in January.
And while retailers plan to absorb some of the cost, they warn rock-bottom prices for imports are almost at an end.
BDT managing director Ken Lilley, whose company supplies retailers including Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming and Smiths City, said prices would rise 10% to 20% on most items.
Mr Lilley has already marked up fridges by 20% for the first quarter of next year. A $1000 fridge will cost about $1300, and a $4000 fridge close to $6000, he said.
"Only the market can determine if they will sell at those prices. But that's what we have to list them at," Mr Lilley said.
Noel Leeming Group chief executive Andrew Dutkiewicz, whose company also owns Bond and Bond, said he had been told prices would go up between 10% 20%.
"We'll do everything we can to cushion the impact on consumers, but it will flow though."
Smiths City Group managing director Rick Hellings said price rises would be staggered as retailers ran out of stock bought at the old price.
The actual increase would depend on the exchange rate, but "the general feeling is somewhere between 15% and 25%," he said.
Mr Hellings was concerned about the effect higher prices would have on sales but said he had no choice.
Mr Hellings and Mr Lilley said shoppers who wanted new appliances and electronics should buy before Christmas.
"To be honest, I believe that prices are never going to be down to the level that we've got now," said Mr Hellings.
A strong dollar and advances in manufacturing efficiency made imported appliances and electronics comparatively inexpensive this year.
But since its peak on March 13, the dollar has fallen 36% against the US dollar and 39% against the yen. Last night, the US dollar had fallen to a 13-year low against the yen.
Mr Lilley said about 70% of imported electronics and appliances were paid for in US dollars, and about 30% paid for in yen.
Westpac research economist Dominick Stephens said the dollar had fallen to the point where prices of imported manufactured goods had to go up.
But Mr Dutkiewicz said imports would still be cheaper than a year ago.
"If you look at a 42-inch plasma TV, it was $2000 12 months ago and now its $1400. Even with a 20% increase - assuming it is 20% - it's only going to go up to $1700."
Mr Lilley said New Zealand and Australia were most expensive places to manufacture for because of our high standards. Manufacturers would not be happy to see price rises, but were trapped by hedged commodity prices.
"If they could do something, they would," he said.
