Cost Of Vegetarian Thali Jumps 9% In May Due To Tomato, Onion Price Surge: Report

In contrast, cumin, chilli, and vegetable oil prices declined 37 per cent, 25 per cent, and 8 per cent, respectively, which helped mitigate any additional increase in the cost of the vegetarian thali

The price of a typical homemade vegetarian thali in May saw a significant increase of 9 per cent year-on-year (YoY), while the non-vegetarian thali experienced a decrease of 7 per cent compared to the previous year, according to a report by the CRISIL MI&A Research released on Thursday. The report further reveals that the rise in the cost of the vegetarian thali was primarily driven by significant increases in the prices of tomato, potato, and onion of 39 per cent, 41 per cent, and 43 per cent, respectively, compared to the previous year.

These increases were primarily attributed to the low base from the last fiscal year, which was a result of reduced onion arrivals due to a notable decrease in rabi acreage and a decline in potato arrivals due to the adverse effects of late blight and crop damage in West Bengal. 

A reduction in acreage, resulting in decreased arrivals, caused a 13 per cent YoY rise in the price of rice, which constitutes 13 per cent of the cost of the vegetarian thali. Simultaneously, diminished reservoir levels affected the production of pulses, making up 9 per cent of the vegetarian thali cost, resulting in a 21 per cent increase in prices compared to the previous year.

In contrast, cumin, chilli, and vegetable oil prices declined 37 per cent, 25 per cent, and 8 per cent, respectively, which helped mitigate any additional increase in the cost of the vegetarian thali. 

Meanwhile, the decrease in the price of the non-vegetarian thali can be linked to an approximate 16 per cent decline in broiler prices compared to the previous year, which occurred on a high base from the last fiscal year.

However, when it comes to monthly change, there were slight fluctuations in the cost of thalis; the vegetarian thali increased by 1 per cent while the non-vegetarian thali decreased by 1 per cent. The increase in the cost of the vegetarian thali was mainly due to a 9 per cent rise in potato prices, while the prices of other key components remained relatively stable. Conversely, the cost of the non-vegetarian thali decreased, attributed to a roughly 2 per cent decline in broiler prices, which represent approximately 50 per cent of the total cost, occurring on a high base.