Rising Tomato, Onion Prices Hit Citizens Pocket; Home-Cooked Thalis' Get Costly By 5-10%

The humble thali, a staple of Indian households, could see a surge in prices due to rising vegetable prices, leaving both vegetarians and non-vegetarians quuetioning. According to CRISIL's Roti Rice Rate index, November witnessed a significant spike in the prices of tomatoes and onions, leading to a notable increase in the cost of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis.

CRISIL MI&A Research estimates revealed that the cost of home-cooked vegetarian thalis soared by 10% last month, while their non-vegetarian counterparts experienced a 5% hike. The classic veg thali, consisting of roti, vegetables (onions, tomatoes, and potatoes), rice, curd, dal, and salad, bore the brunt of a 93% surge in onion prices and a 15% increase in tomato prices, contributing to a 9% year-on-year rise in overall cost.

On the other hand, the non-veg thali, which mirrors the veg thali but substitutes dal with chicken (broiler), witnessed a slower rate of increase, tracking a marginal 1-3% decline in broiler prices. Broilers account for approximately 50% of the non-veg thali cost, providing a slight relief amidst the vegetable price surge.

The root cause of the surge in onion and tomato prices was the festive demand and lower output during the Kharif season, exacerbated by rainfall conditions. Pulses, constituting 9% of the veg thali cost, also witnessed a 21% year-on-year increase in prices, adding to the overall cost burden.

The journey of thali prices throughout the year has been a rollercoaster. Between January and May, thalis experienced a price drop, attributed to a softening of onion, tomato, and oil prices. However, July and August marked a sharp increase in both veg and non-veg thali prices due to soaring tomato costs. In August alone, tomatoes led to a 24% increase in veg thali prices, while non-veg thali costs surged by 13% year-on-year.

The average cost calculation for preparing a thali at home takes into account input prices prevailing across North, South, East, and West India. This approach provides a holistic view of the impact of fluctuating prices on the pockets of households across the country.

As families grapple with the economic implications of this unexpected rise in thali prices, it remains to be seen how consumers and the market will adapt to these new culinary economics.