Home-cooked veg thalis get cheaper in May as food inflation cools: Crisil

The cost of home-cooked vegetarian thalis declined by 6% each (year-on-year) in May due to a sharp drop in prices of key vegetables led by a high-base effect, a Crisil report showed on Thursday. 

On a monthly basis, the cost of a vegetarian thali remained stable.

Tomato prices fell 29 % to ₹23 per kg from ₹33 per kg in May as concerns over yield lifted prices last year. Prices of onion and potato declined 15% and 16%, respectively, on-year, according to the ‘Roti Rice Rate’ (RRR) report.

Potato prices had shot up last year due to crop damage following blight infestations and unseasonal rainfall in West Bengal, while onion prices had increased due to lower rabi acreage and yield, as water availability in key growing states – Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka – was low.

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.

“Thali costs diverged marginally on-month in May 2025, with vegetarian thali holding steady. While tomato and potato turned dearer, prices of onion declined, keeping the vegetarian thali cost stable sequentially,” said Pushan Sharma, Director-Research, Crisil Intelligence.

“Going ahead, we anticipate an uptick in vegetable prices owing to seasonal variations and a slight easing in prices of wheat and pulses amid strong domestic output,” said Sharma.

(This story was taken from syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)