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Informist, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026

 

MUMBAI – The cost of a home-cooked vegetarian thali was pushed up by high prices of onion, vegetable oil, rice, and liquefied petroleum gas, despite a decline in potato and tomato prices, while elevated broiler chicken prices resulted in the cost of non-vegetarian meals going up, according to a CRISIL Intelligence report. The cost of preparing a vegetarian thali rose 1% on year to INR 29.5 and a non-vegetarian meal rose 5% to INR 57.5, according to the report.

 

Month-on-month, the CRISIL report showed the cost rose 1% for a vegetarian thali and fell 1% for a non-vegetarian thali. Onion prices rose 17% on month, which pushed up thali costs. However, a 7?cline in tomato prices and broadly stable prices of other commodities restricted a further uptick. The cost of preparing a non-vegetarian thali fell due to an estimated 4% on-month decline in broiler prices amid weakened demand during the Shravan month, according to the release.

 

On year, onion prices rose 43% to INR 40 per kilogram in August from INR 28 per kg, driven by supply tightness. According to the report, unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms in Maharashtra during March-April damaged late-season crops and stored inventories, while a 5-6?cline in rabi production further constrained availability and added another layer of support to prices. 

 

Vegetable oil and liquefied petroleum gas cylinder prices rose 11% and 10% on year, respectively, on supply disruptions and elevated energy prices caused by the war in West Asia. However, the increase in thali costs was partly offset by a fall in potato and tomato prices. Potato prices declined 12% on year due to an estimated 2–3% increase in rabi production, supported by acreage expansion, whereas that of tomatoes fell 28?cause of higher market arrivals. The cost of preparing a non-vegetarian thali rose on year due to an estimated 10% increase in broiler prices, which accounted for 50% of the cost, driven by higher feed prices, according to the report.

 

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 an individual'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 Krupa Biju 

Edited by Shubhayan Bhattacharya

 

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