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Informist, Wednesday, Jun. 3, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The cost of a home-cooked non-vegetarian meal rose 7% on year and a vegetarian meal rose 5% on year in May, according to CRISIL Intelligence. The cost of cooking meals increased due to higher prices of tomato, vegetable oil, and cooking gas despite a fall in rates of onion, potato, and pulses, CRISIL said in a report. 

 

The cost of a non-vegetarian thali was INR 56.50 and vegetarian meal was INR 27.40 in May. Both meals registered a 3% on-month rise in May. On month, tomato prices were up 23%, onion up 3%, potato prices were up 2% in May, pushing up thali costs. 

 

However, in on-year terms, the cost of non-veg meal rose 7%, driven by a 9% on-year uptick in broiler prices, which accounted for 50% of the cost. "Intense summer heat caused bird mortality among poultry to spike, squeezing supply and pushing up prices," the report said. 

Meanwhile, the cost of vegetarian meal rose 5% on year amid high tomato, cooking oil and gas prices. Global supply-side pressures pushed up vegetable oil and LPG prices by 8% and 7% on-year, respectively, increasing the cost of both veg and non-veg meals, the report said. 

 

In May, tomato prices surged 57% on year to INR 36 per kg from INR 23 per kg in May 2025, primarily on account of a 3-4?cline in production, the report said. Crisil expects prices of TOP, or tomato, onion, and potato to be costlier in the coming months. 

 

"Tomato prices are expected to remain elevated during June-August, with supply likely to tighten because of lower summer sowing amid heat-related concerns in key northern growing states," Pushan Sharma, director, Crisil Intelligence, said in a note.

 

Though potato prices are currently 14% down on year amid 2-3% higher rabi production, Sharma sees the starchy vegetable prices inching up as the rabi harvest season concludes and higher priced cold-storage stock enters the market. "Onions, too, are likely to become costlier in the coming months, following an estimated 5?cline in rabi production this year," Sharma added. 

 

However, pulses prices are expected to be subdued in the months ahead, supported by comfortable domestic availability. "Pulses production is projected to be marginally higher in marketing year 2027 (Jul 2026-Jun 2027). Government stocks, too, have risen to around 43 lakh tonne, the highest level in the past three years," Sharma said. 

 

Although concerns over lower tur imports from Mozambique may lend support to prices, adequate domestic supplies, duty-free import of tur and urad, and continued buffer stock availability are expected to offset supply risks, Sharma said. "The broader pulses complex is likely to remain well-supplied, limiting upside in prices," he added.  End

 

Reported by Afra Abubacker

Edited by Deepshikha Bhardwaj

 

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