Cement prices are expected to rise post festive season, especially a few days after Diwali as markets resume consumption. Post festive season, infrastructure activity picks up pace, housing segment recovers momentum. Cost pressures and financial-viability also weigh in. Aggressive expansion plans by cement majors and lack of demand due to monsoon kept a lid on the pricing. Average Q2FY23 cement prices declined 2.7-5.3% QoQ, as per Investec report. Even as the cement majors' realisations are expected to pick up in the second half of the financial year- the extent of price hikes may be limited due to incremental supply situation.