In November, the cost of enjoying a wholesome meal took a toll as the prices of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis experienced a surge. CRISIL’s roti rice rate index highlights a noteworthy increase, with both thali types witnessing a respective rise of 10% and 5% in the past month.
Impact on Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Thalis:
The vegetarian thali, typically comprising roti, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, rice, curd, dal, and salad, saw a notable 10% increase. Meanwhile, the non-vegetarian thali, which replaces dal with chicken (broiler) while retaining the other components, experienced a slightly lower increase of 5%.
Contributing Factors:
The significant uptick in thali prices is primarily attributed to the substantial rise in onion and tomato prices, shooting up by 58% and 35%, respectively, in the last month. These two ingredients play a pivotal role in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis, impacting their overall cost.
Variation Between Veg and Non-Veg Thalis:
CRISIL’s monthly Roti Rice Rate indicator reveals a nuanced difference between the price increases in vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis. The non-veg thali experienced a comparatively slower rise due to a marginal decline (1-3%) in broiler prices, which constitute around 50% of the thali cost.
Yearly Comparison and Driving Factors:
Comparing the prices to the previous year, the vegetable thali cost rose by 9%. This increase was fueled by a substantial surge of 93% in onion prices and a 15% jump in tomato prices. The festive season’s heightened demand and reduced Kharif season output, influenced by unpredictable rainfall conditions, contributed to the spike. Furthermore, pulses, accounting for 9% of the vegetable thali, witnessed a significant 21% increase compared to the previous year.
Thali Price Trends in 2023:
From January to May 2023, vegetable thali prices reached their lowest point due to declining onion, tomato, and oil prices. However, the trend reversed in July and August, witnessing a 24% increase in vegetable thali prices and a 13% rise in non-vegetarian thali prices year-on-year.
