(NTI): The cost of a home-cooked vegetarian thali, a traditional Indian meal, rose by 9% in May 2024, reaching ₹27.8. This increase was primarily driven by significant spikes in the prices of key ingredients like tomatoes (39%), potatoes (41%), and onions (43%). These price hikes were attributed to reduced crop yields and a low base effect from the previous fiscal year.
In contrast, the cost of a non-vegetarian thali decreased by 7% during the same period, settling at ₹55.9. This decline was due to a 16% drop in broiler chicken prices, which offset the rising costs of other ingredients.
The price differences between vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis were calculated based on average costs across North, South, East, and West India. Both types of thalis typically include roti (flatbread), rice, dal (lentils), and curd (yogurt), but vegetarian thalis feature additional vegetables while non-vegetarian thalis substitute dal with chicken.
Several factors contributed to the increased cost of vegetarian thalis. A sharp drop in onion cultivation and crop damage affecting potatoes led to scarcity and higher prices for these vegetables. Additionally, the prices of rice and pulses rose by 13% and 21%, respectively.
However, the impact of these price increases was partially mitigated by lower prices for cumin, chili, and vegetable oil, which fell by 37%, 25%, and 8%, respectively.
On a monthly basis, the cost of a vegetarian thali increased by 1%, mainly due to a 9% rise in potato prices. Other components remained relatively stable. The cost of a non-vegetarian thali decreased slightly due to a 2% decline in broiler prices.
The CRISIL report, titled ‘Roti Rice Rate,’ analyzed the average cost of preparing a thali at home based on prevailing input prices across different regions of India. The report aims to track the impact of price changes on household expenditure and identify the key ingredients driving these fluctuations.
Despite the recent increase in food prices, the overall consumer price index (CPI) inflation in April 2024 remained relatively stable, decreasing slightly from 4.85% in March to 4.83%. This indicates that inflation is resisting the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee’s target of 4%. The slight rise in headline inflation was primarily attributed to food inflation during the summer months.
