Home appliance retailers - notified recently of cost increases from major air-conditioner makers - said they will use their inventories to maintain prices at the current levels for the near term.

Gome Appliance, China's biggest home appliance chain, said it won't raise air-conditioner prices this year because it has already stocked enough supply to handle the busy summer season.

"We purchased more than 5 billion yuan (US$625 million) worth of air conditioners in March and April to meet peak demand in our stores," said Chang Shuning, a spokesman for Gome Appliance in Shanghai.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)