Your thali cost has gone up! Home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis saw a month-on-month price increase of 10% and 5%, respectively, according to CRISIL MI&A Research's estimates in November.
The surge is linked to a notable 58% and 35% on-month hike in onion and tomato prices, driven by festive demand and reduced kharif season output due to unpredictable rainfall, the rating agency said.
Notably, the non-vegetarian thali costs rose slower than vegetarian thali costs on-month. This can be attributed to a slight 1-3% decrease in broiler prices, constituting roughly 50% of the non-vegetarian thali cost.
Year-on-year, the vegetarian thali expenses increased by 9%, fueled by a substantial 93% and 15% surge in onion and tomato prices. Pulses' prices, forming about 9% of the veg thali cost, also spiked by 21%.
Home cooked thali cost trends by CRISIL
The vegetarian thali includes roti, vegetables (onion, tomato, and potato), rice, dal, curd, and salad. The non-vegetarian thali features similar components to the vegetarian version, replacing dal with chicken (broiler).
These thali cost estimations by CRISIL are based on input prices across various regions in India. The monthly variations reflect the impact on the average consumer's spending, shedding light on the key ingredients influencing the thali cost—cereals, pulses, broilers, vegetables, spices, edible oil, and cooking gas.
In July, retail inflation surged to a 15-month peak of 7.44%, notably driven by food price inflation reaching 11.5%. This is the highest level for food price inflation in over three and a half years. Additionally, despite government actions like export restrictions and pulse imports aimed at curbing food inflation, the figure remained elevated at 6.61% in October.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its monetary policy review is expected to keep the key policy rates unchanged, given the sticky nature of retail inflation, the impact of erratic monsoon, and better than expected GDP data alleviating concerns of higher interest rates impacting growth.
Stay informed with the latest Business News on Times of India. Explore updates on International Business, gain insights with Financial Literacy tips, and make use of Financial Calculators. Don’t forget to check the list of Bank Holidays in 2025, including Bank Holidays in January.
The TOI Business Desk is a vigilant and dedicated team of journal...
Read MoreThe TOI Business Desk is a vigilant and dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant business news from around the world to readers of The Times of India. The primary focus of the TOI Business Desk is to keep a watchful eye on the global business landscape, covering a wide spectrum of industries, markets, economic trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact businesses and economies. With a mission to provide valuable insights and updates, the desk ensures that TOI readers are well-informed about the ever-changing and dynamic world of commerce and can navigate the complexities of the business world.
Read Less