Cost of home-cooked non-veg thali hits seven-month high in September

The cost of preparing a home-cooked non-vegetarian thali surged to a seven-month high of ₹56 in September from ₹54.6 in August, driven primarily by a 10 per cent month-on-month increase in broiler prices, according to the latest edition of Roti Rice Rate report released by credit rating agency Crisil on Wednesday.

 

In contrast, the vegetarian thali cost eased to ₹28.1 in September after touching an eight-month high of ₹29.1 in August, helped by a dip in tomato prices and softness in potato and onion costs.

 

“Tomato prices dipped 21 per cent on-month to ₹42 per kg from ₹53 per kg in September on account of an 8 per cent month-on-month increase in arrivals from the Western and Southern markets. The rise in the cost of the non-vegetarian thali was on account of an estimated 10 per cent jump in broiler prices because of supply constraints amid low production,” the report noted.

   

The rating agency calculates the average cost of preparing a thali at home based on the input prices prevailing from all corners of the country. 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.

 

However, when compared to the thali prices prevailing in September 2024, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thali became cheaper, with the veg thali down 10 per cent and the non-veg thali down by approximately 6 per cent.

 

The decline was led by sharp dip in prices of vegetables and pulses. However, a modest ₹1 per cent decline in broiler prices on year limited the reduction in the cost of non-veg thali.

 

The report said onion prices declined 46 per cent on-year because of higher rabi supplies and the increase in domestic supplies resulting from the bearish shipments to Bangladesh, which accounts for 40 per cent in India’s onion export basket. 

 

Echoing the Crisil findings, the Bank of Baroda Essential Commodities Index (BoB ECI) reported a continued deflationary trend for the fifth consecutive month, falling by 1 per cent year-on-year in September and by a sharper 3.8 per cent in the first six days of October.

 

 “9 out of 20 commodities in the index witnessed deflation with the sharpest pace being observable for TOP vegetables (Tomato, Onion and Potato),” the public sector bank (PSB) noted.

 

The lender further projected the CPI inflation at 1.2 per cent for September.

 

“Headline CPI is largely experiencing a food driven downward spiral. This is supported by robust arrival statistics of TOP vegetables. The coming months also coincide with the harvesting period of these vegetables. Hence, we expect prices to drop even further,” Bank of Baroda added.

 

Pushan Sharma, director-research at Crisil Intelligence, said that going ahead, onion prices could see a moderate increase in the medium term as excess rainfall in key producing states such as Karnataka and Maharashtra has delayed kharif transplantation and raised yield concerns. 

“Moreover, if heavy rainfall affects stored onions or the standing kharif crop in October, there could be additional upward pressure on prices. Tomato prices, meanwhile, are expected to firm up during the festive season, compounded by the isolated impact on yield from excessive rainfall in major producing states, such as Karnataka and Maharashtra,” he added.