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Key Points

The Crisil report reveals a significant 6% decline in home-cooked thali prices in May 2025, primarily driven by falling vegetable prices. Tomatoes, potatoes, and onions saw substantial price reductions due to improved crop conditions and market dynamics. Despite increases in vegetable oil and LPG prices, the overall thali cost decreased, with non-vegetarian thalis becoming cheaper due to lower broiler chicken prices. The report highlights the complex factors influencing food pricing in the Indian market.

Key Points: Thali Costs Drop 6% as Vegetable Prices Plummet in May

  • Tomato prices fell 29% year-on-year to Rs 23 per kg
  • Potato and onion prices dropped 15-16% due to crop conditions
  • Vegetable oil and LPG prices prevented further cost reduction
  • Broiler chicken prices declined 6% due to market oversupply
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Cost of home-cooked thalis declines 6% in May, driven by cheaper vegetables: Crisil report

Crisil report reveals significant decline in home-cooked thali prices driven by cheaper vegetables and broiler chicken

"The decline in prices of broiler was due to oversupply and lower demand - Crisil Report"

New Delhi, June 8

In May 2025, the cost of home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis declined by 6 per cent each year-on-year, according to a Crisil report. The decline was due to a sharp drop in the prices of key vegetables, led by the high-base effect.

According to Crisil analysis, tomato prices fell 29 per cent to Rs 23 per kg from Rs 33 per kg in May 2025 as concerns over yield had lifted prices last year.

Prices of onion and potato declined 15 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively, year-on-year in May as potato prices had shot up last year due to crop damage following blight infestations and unseasonal rainfall in West Bengal, while onion prices had increased due to lower rabi acreage and yield, as water availability in key growing states - Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka - was low.

Crisil found in its analysis that a 19 per cent year-on-year jump in vegetable oil prices due to a rise in import duty and a 6 per cent year-on-year rise in the price of liquefied petroleum gas cylinder prevented a further drop in thali cost in May.

Along with lower vegetable prices, an estimated 6 per cent year-on-year decline in the price of broiler chicken made non-vegetarian thalis cheaper.

"The decline in prices of broiler -- which makes up about 50 per cent of the non-vegetarian thali cost -- was due to oversupply and lower demand amid bird flu reported in parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka," the Crisil report read.

On a month-on-month basis, the cost of a vegetarian thali remained stable, while that of non-vegetarian thali reduced 2 per cent in May 2025

Potato and tomato prices rose 3 per cent and 10 per cent month-on-month, respectively, while onion prices dipped 10 per cent, thereby keeping the vegetarian thali cost unchanged month-on-month.

The Crisil report noted that an estimated 4 per cent month-on-month decline in broiler prices contributed towards the decrease in the non-vegetarian thali cost in May.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Finally some good news for middle class families! Our monthly grocery bill had become unbearable last year. Hope the prices stay low through monsoon season too 🤞 The 6% drop may seem small but makes a real difference for daily meals.
P
Priya M.
The vegetable price drop is welcome but why is LPG still so expensive? Cooking gas prices affect thali costs more than people realize. Government should reduce taxes on domestic cylinders - this is basic necessity not luxury item!
S
Sanjay T.
As a farmer from Maharashtra, this price volatility worries me. Last year we suffered losses due to drought, now oversupply is crashing prices. Govt needs better crop planning and storage systems. Farmers can't keep bearing these boom-bust cycles.
A
Ananya R.
Good to see chicken prices down but the bird flu reports are concerning 😟 Hope FSSAI is doing proper checks before poultry reaches markets. Public health should not be compromised for cheaper thalis.
V
Vikram J.
These reports never match ground reality in my local mandi. Tomatoes still ₹40/kg in Bangalore! Maybe wholesale prices dropped but retailers aren't passing benefits to consumers. Need better price monitoring at last-mile.
N
Neha P.
While price drop is good, we must think long-term. Climate change is making vegetable production unpredictable. Need investment in drought-resistant crops and modern irrigation. Cheap thalis today may mean food insecurity tomorrow if we don't act.

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