Cost of home-cooked thali dips 14% in July
The cost of home-cooked vegetarian thalis declined 14% and 13%, respectively, in July this year compared to the same month of the previous year, amid benign commodity prices, according to Crisil’s monthly indicator of food plate cost. The decline in vegetarian thali cost year-on-year was led by a sharp drop in the prices of vegetables -- primarily tomato, onion, and potato (TOP) -- on a high base: − Tomato prices fell 36% on-year to ₹42 per kg in July from Rs 66 per kg, driven by a high base effect as the prices typically surge around July/August due to seasonality, even breaching ₹100 per kg in 2023.Prices of potato and onion declined 30% and 36% on-year, respectively, on a high base. In the year-ago period, potato production dropped 5-7% due to blight infestations and weather changes, which led to a rise in prices. For onion, an 18-20% rise in annual production led to a dip in prices in 2025.Prices of pulses declined 14% year-on-year, driven by higher production and stock levels compared with the year-ago period, and the cost of rice declined 4%.Despite a reduction in basic customs duty (BCD) on crude edible oils, vegetable oil prices surged 20% on-year as the benefits of lower BCD have not yet been completely passed on to customers. Additionally, a 6 per cent on-year increase in liquefied petroleum gas cylinder prices limited the decline in the overall cost of thalis, the Crisil report added.
The cost of home-cooked vegetarian thalis declined 14% and 13%, respectively, in July this year compared to the same month of the previous year, amid benign commodity prices, according to Crisil’s monthly indicator of food plate cost.
The decline in vegetarian thali cost year-on-year was led by a sharp drop in the prices of vegetables -- primarily tomato, onion, and potato (TOP) -- on a high base: − Tomato prices fell 36% on-year to ₹42 per kg in July from Rs 66 per kg, driven by a high base effect as the prices typically surge around July/August due to seasonality, even breaching ₹100 per kg in 2023.
Prices of potato and onion declined 30% and 36% on-year, respectively, on a high base. In the year-ago period, potato production dropped 5-7% due to blight infestations and weather changes, which led to a rise in prices. For onion, an 18-20% rise in annual production led to a dip in prices in 2025.
Prices of pulses declined 14% year-on-year, driven by higher production and stock levels compared with the year-ago period, and the cost of rice declined 4%.
Despite a reduction in basic customs duty (BCD) on crude edible oils, vegetable oil prices surged 20% on-year as the benefits of lower BCD have not yet been completely passed on to customers. Additionally, a 6 per cent on-year increase in liquefied petroleum gas cylinder prices limited the decline in the overall cost of thalis, the Crisil report added.
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