New Delhi, June 3 -- A brief summer spike in air-conditioner sales fizzled out by May as unseasonal rainfall and an early monsoon dented demand for cooling products, disrupting what is typically a peak season for the category.

The sudden weather shift has left manufacturers and retailers grappling with excess inventory and weaker-than-expected sales across categories like ACs, refrigerators, and beverages.

Industry executives say overall sales in April and May fell 10-15% year-on-year, reversing early-season optimism driven by forecasts of a harsh summer. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) now predicting a wetter June, companies are recalibrating expectations for the first half of FY26.

"This year the summer season kicked i...