Synopsis
In March 2025, the costs associated with home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis saw a decrease of 2% and 5% respectively, as reported by Crisil. This decline was primarily driven by falling prices of essential vegetables such as onions and tomatoes due to fresh crop arrivals.Key Takeaways
- Home-cooked thali costs declined by 2% for vegetarian and 5% for non-vegetarian in March 2025.
- Prices of onions, potatoes, and tomatoes decreased significantly, aiding in the overall cost reduction.
- Broiler chicken prices fell by 7%, impacting non-vegetarian thali costs.
- Year-on-year, tomato prices dropped by 34% to Rs 21/kg.
- Crisil expects prices to stabilize and potentially rise in April.
New Delhi, April 7 (NationPress) The expense associated with preparing a home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian 'thali (plate)' saw a reduction of 2 percent and 5 percent, respectively, in March 2025 when compared to the prior month, as reported by a Crisil Intelligence document published on Monday.
A decrease in the prices of onions, potatoes, and tomatoes by 5 percent, 7 percent, and 8 percent respectively, was noted due to the arrival of fresh crops, contributing to the lower cost of a thali.
The drop in the cost of a non-vegetarian thali was primarily due to an estimated 7 percent monthly decrease in broiler chicken prices. An abundant supply in the North, paired with reduced demand amidst a bird flu alarm in the South, resulted in this decline.
When compared to March of the previous year, the cost of a home-cooked vegetarian thali fell by 3 percent, while the price of a non-vegetarian thali remained stable year-on-year.
The year-on-year drop in the cost of a vegetarian thali was largely due to a significant decrease in tomato prices.
Year-on-year, tomato prices plummeted by 34 percent to Rs 21/kg in March 2025 from Rs 32/kg in March 2024.
The influx of tomato crops nationwide increased by 29 percent, particularly in the southern states, which experienced a robust Rabi crop due to expanded acreage and improved yields year-on-year amid healthy reservoir conditions.
Nonetheless, a rise of 2 percent, 6 percent, and 19 percent year-on-year in the prices of potatoes, onions, and vegetable oil, respectively, hindered a further drop in the cost of a vegetarian thali.
The average expenditure for preparing a thali at home is determined based on input prices from North, South, East, and West India. The monthly variation reflects the impact on the typical person’s spending.
Crisil Intelligence director Pushan Sharma stated, “Vegetable prices remained low in March, with reductions in the prices of onions, potatoes, and tomatoes due to fresh arrivals. However, we anticipate prices to stabilize and begin to rise in April, similar to last year’s trends for potatoes and tomatoes. Onion prices are expected to be buoyed by strong export activity, while potato prices are likely to increase as cold storage supplies are released. Tomato prices may also experience a modest rise due to lower Rabi arrivals.”
