More Stories

Informist, Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

 

MUMBAI – A rise in prices of tomato, onion, vegetable oils and liquefied petroleum gas pushed up the cost of a home-cooked vegetarian thali (meal) in June, while higher broiler prices resulted in the cost of non-vegetarian meals going up, according to Crisil Intelligence. In its monthly indicator  of food plate cost, the Crisil arm said the cost of preparing a vegetarian thali rose 5% on year to INR 28.4, whereas that of a non-vegetarian meal went up 6% to INR 58.2.

 

Month-on-month, the cost rose 4% for a vegetarian thali and 3% for a non-vegetarian thali, it said in a release.

 

Tomato prices rose 31% on year to INR 42 per kg in June from INR 32 a year ago, driven by delayed and lower summer crop planting amid high temperatures in Feb-Mar. Onion prices rose 2% on year as higher-priced stored rabi stocks entered the market. Vegetable oil and LPG cylinder prices rose 10% year-on-year each due to supply disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict, it said.

 

However, the rise in costs was capped by a 14?cline in potato prices following fresh rabi arrivals.

 

Prices of broiler, which account for nearly 50% of the cost of a non-vegetarian thali, rose 7% on year due to tight supply caused by extreme summer heat that raised bird mortality, reduced weight gain, and discouraged fresh chick placements, the release said.

 

Going forward, a prolonged rainfall deficit during critical crop growth stages could impact kharif paddy yields, particularly during flowering. This could tighten supplies from key producing states such as Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra, thereby supporting market prices, said Pushan Sharma, director, Crisil Intelligence.

 

For pulses, lower opening stocks of urad and moong, coupled with weather-induced yield losses across Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, are expected to keep prices firm, he said.

 

"Across key vegetables, a sustained rainfall deficit could lower kharif onion and tomato yields through delayed planting and moisture stress. For onions, lower rabi stocks have already supported prices in recent months, and any adverse impact on kharif yields could further tighten supplies and keep prices firm. Onion prices are expected to remain firm over the medium term due to tight rabi supplies and delayed kharif arrivals. Potato prices are likely to edge up as cold-storage stocks are gradually released into the market," Sharma said.

 

Moreover, tomato prices are expected to stay firm through July and August, supported by delayed kharif planting and seasonally lean supplies. However, staggered summer crop arrivals, particularly from southern states where farmers replanted following heat stress, should help soften the seasonal price spike, Sharma said.

 

According to Crisil's methodology, a vegetarian thali includes roti, vegetables (onion, tomato, potato), rice, dal, curd and salad. A non-vegetarian thali replaces dal with chicken (broiler).

 

The average cost of preparing a thali at home is calculated based on input prices prevailing in north, south, east and west India. The monthly change reflects the impact on the common man's expenditure. The data also reveals the ingredients (cereals, pulses, broilers, vegetables, spices, edible oil and cooking gas) driving the change in the cost of the thali.  End

 

Reported by Abhijit Doshi

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.