Home-Cooked Thali Becomes More Affordable In May: Crisil Report

The vegetarian thali remained largely unchanged on a month-on-month basis, while the cost of a non-vegetarian thali dropped by 2 per cent compared to April

A substantial reduction in key vegetable prices contributed to the lower thali costs

Source : ABPLIVE_AI

Indian households saw some respite from food inflation in May as the cost of home-cooked meals dropped significantly, according to Crisil’s latest Roti Rice Rate (RRR) report released on Thursday. The study indicates that the price of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis declined by 6 per cent year-on-year, primarily driven by a sharp fall in vegetable prices, aided by a high base effect from the previous year.

The vegetarian thali remained largely unchanged on a month-on-month basis, while the cost of a non-vegetarian thali dropped by 2 per cent compared to April.

Vegetable Prices Lead The Decline

A substantial reduction in key vegetable prices contributed to the lower thali costs. Tomato prices fell sharply by 29 per cent, dropping to Rs 23 per kg from Rs 33 per kg in May last year. Onion and potato prices also declined by 15 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively, compared to the same period in 2024.

Last year’s spike in potato prices was largely due to crop damage from blight and unexpected rainfall in West Bengal. Meanwhile, the onion market faced tight supplies due to lower rabi yields and inadequate water availability in major producing states such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.

Broiler Prices Drive Down Non-Veg Thali

Commenting on the monthly trend, Pushan Sharma, Director-Research at Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics, said, “Thali costs diverged marginally on-month in May 2025, with vegetarian thali holding steady and non-vegetarian thali becoming 2 per cent cheaper. While tomato and potato turned dearer, prices of onion declined, keeping the vegetarian thali cost stable sequentially.”

The decrease in the cost of non-vegetarian meals was largely driven by a 4 per cent month-on-month drop in broiler chicken prices, easing overall costs for meat-inclusive thalis.

Outlook: Vegetable Prices May Rise Seasonally

Looking ahead, Crisil expects some upward pressure on vegetable prices due to seasonal shifts. However, this may be balanced by potential softening in wheat and pulse prices owing to strong domestic production.

“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,” Sharma added.