Veg thali costlier by 11% in Sep, non-veg thali cheaper by 2%: CRISIL

The Indian vegetarian thali was costlier by 11 per cent in September 2024 on a year-on-year basis, while price of the non-vegetarian thali saw a 2 per-cent fall in the same period, according to CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics Research on October 4.

VEG THALI HIT BY SUPPLY CRUNCH, HEAVY RAINS

Surge in vegetable prices is the primary reason for the rising cost of the veg thali. Vegetables account for nearly 37 per cent of the veg thali’s cost, and important ingredients saw prices go up. While cost of onions rose by 53 per cent, potatoes saw a 50-per cent price rise. Tomatoes were dearer by 18 per cent.

The report says the rise in vegetable prices is owing to supplies falling, especially in the case of onions and potatoes. Tomato harvest, on the other hand, was damaged by heavy rainfall in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Pulses, too, became costlier on a year-on-year basis. Pulses account for about 9 per cent of a veg thali’s cost and the price of the ingredient rose by 14 per cent, mainly owing to fall in production volume in 2023.

BROILER PRICE DROP MAKES NON-VEG THALI CHEAPER

On the other hand, the non-veg thali saw a decline of 2 per cent in average prices, driven mainly by a 13-per cent drop in the cost of broiler chicken. The dish constitutes 50 per cent of the price of a non-veg thali and its stability of price ensured the non-veg thali remained cheaper than the veg thali.

Prices of veg as well as non-veg thalis were stable on a month-on-month basis. Incidentally, while there was a price rise for onions by 14 per cent, potato costs fell by 2 per cent and tomatoes were cheaper by 9 per cent drop on a month-on-month basis.

CRISIL, or Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited, draws up the average prices of veg and non-veg thalis after collecting inputs from North, East, West and South India. The research report takes into account monthly variation in prices of key food ingredients, including cereals, vegetables, pulses, broiler chicken, spices, cooking oil, and cooking gas.