A vegetarian thali’s price increased seven per cent,  to Rs 32.7, primarily due to a 35 per cent jump in tomato prices to Rs 53 per kg and 50 per cent increase in potato at Rs 37 per kg. A non-vegetarian thali cost inched up 2 per cent to Rs 61.5 in November due to a three  per cent increase in the cost of broilers, which have a 50 per cent weightage in computation.  A veg thali comprises roti, vegetables, onion, tomato and potato,along with rice, dal, curd and salad. A non-veg thali has the same elements except for dal, which is replaced by broiler chicken. 

According to a CRISIL Roti Rice Rate (RRR) report for November, the price of potato increased 50 per cent on-year on a low base to Rs 37 per kg from Rs 25 per kg in November 2023 due to a 20 per cent on-year decline in arrivals amid low yield following late blight infestation in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Price of tomato increased 35 per cent on-year to Rs 53 per kg from Rs 40 per kg in November 2023.

Additionally, prices of pulses rose 10 per cent, it said, adding that they will decline with fresh arrivals in December, while import duty hike led to a 13 per cent increase in vegetable oil prices.Prices are expected to dip once fresh arrivals begin in December. “Adding to the cost, vegetable oil prices rose 13 per cent on-year due to import duty hike, coupled with the festive and wedding season demand,” Crisil stated.

The average cost of preparing a thali at home is calculated based on the input prices for it, which includes cereals, pulses, broilers, vegetables, spices, edible oil and cooking gas. The prices prevailing in North, South, East and West India are all taken into account to calculate an average.

An 11 per cent drop in fuel cost - from Rs 903 last year for a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder in Delhi to Rs 803 currently - prevented further increase in the thali cost. In October, prices of onion and potato rose 46% and 51% year on year, respectively, because of lower arrivals due to incessant rainfall in September. Rainfall in Maharashtra and Karnataka has delayed onion harvests.

“The cold storage stocks of rabi potato, which accounts for about 95% of annual potato production, are declining due to the end of the season, while fresh arrivals are slated to begin from December/January. Prices of tomato have more than doubled from Rs 29/kg in October 2023 to Rs 64/kg in October 2024 due to the September rains that damaged the crop and affected their arrivals from states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, coupled with the festive demand,” the report added.