Prices of Veg, Non-veg Thali Decline 5% in February: CRISIL
Moneylife Digital Team 11 March 2025
The cost of vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis in India declined by 5% in February compared to the previous month, according to a report by CRISIL Intelligence. The reduction is attributed to lower prices of essential ingredients, including vegetables, particularly onions, tomatoes, potatoes and broiler chicken.
 
The decline in vegetarian thali costs was primarily driven by a sharp fall in the prices of tomatoes, onions and potatoes. Tomato prices fell 25% month-on-month (m-o-m) to Rs23/kg (kilogram) due to a 20% increase in arrivals, while onion and potato prices dropped 7% and 17%, respectively. An 11% decrease in the cost of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, from Rs903 to Rs803 for a 14.2kg cylinder in Delhi, also contributed to the relief for consumers.
 
However, the decline could have been sharper if not for the increase in the prices of onion (11%), potato (16%), and vegetable oil (18%) on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, the rating agency says.
 
The non-vegetarian thali also saw a 5% cost reduction in February from the previous month, driven by a decrease in broiler chicken prices. The price of broiler fell by around 5% m-o-m due to reduced demand amid a bird flu scare in southern India. However, on a y-o-y basis, the cost of a non-veg thali rose by about 6%, mainly due to a 15% surge in broiler prices, which accounts for nearly half of the total cost of a non-veg thali. The rise in broiler prices can be attributed to elevated feed costs and a low base from last year when prices dipped due to excess supply.
 
The fall in thali prices brings much-needed respite to households amid persistent inflationary pressures on essential commodities. CRISIL’s monthly food plate cost indicator, which tracks the prices of ingredients across the country, highlights the regional variations and the primary factors influencing food affordability.
 
Going ahead, Pushan Sharma, director for research at CRISIL Intelligence, says the arrival of fresh rabi crops is expected to keep vegetable prices subdued, offering continued relief for vegetarian thali costs. "That said, temperature conditions in March will bear watching as above-normal temperatures can impact the shelf life and quality of onions, which need to be stored for the next six months, as well as the quantity and quality of wheat - the most significant crop of the rabi season."
Comments
Managing Liquidity Crunch: RBI To Conduct OMO Purchase Auction of Rs1 Lakh Crore, Swap Auction of US$10bn
Moneylife Digital Team 06 March 2025
Taking cognisance of the tight liquidity conditions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to conduct an open market operation (OMO) purchase auction of government of India securities worth Rs1 lakh crore and buy and sell swap...
RBI Faces Mounting Pressure To Infuse Liquidity amid Tight Market Conditions: SBI
Moneylife Digital Team 05 March 2025
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may need to inject an additional Rs1trn (trillion) or Rs1 lakh crore in liquidity into the banking system by the end of March to stabilise financial markets, according to a research report by the State...
India's Trade Deficit Widens amid Fresh Decline in Exports and Surge in Imports
Moneylife Digital Team 19 February 2025
India's trade deficit widened significantly in January 2025, as merchandise exports fell while imports surged, reflecting ongoing economic pressures and shifting global trade dynamics.
 
According to data released by CRISIL Ratings,...
RBI's New App to Provides Seamless Access To Economic and Financial Data
Moneylife Digital Team 19 February 2025
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a new mobile application, 'RBIDATA', to provide users with seamless access to macroeconomic and financial statistics related to the Indian economy. Designed to be visually engaging and...
Free Helpline
Legal Credit
Feedback