Thali costs climb in May: Crisil report

New Delhi: The cost of home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis increased by 5% and 7% year-on-year in May, respectively, driven by higher prices of tomatoes, vegetable oils and LPG, according to a Crisil report released on Wednesday.

Last month, tomato prices were 57% higher than a year ago at ₹36 per kg, primarily on account of a 3-4% decline in production, even as prices of vegetable oils increased globally. Vegetable oil and LPG prices were up 8% and 7% year-on-year, respectively. The average cost of preparing a thali at home is calculated based on input prices prevailing in northern, southern, eastern and western India.

“Tomato prices are expected to remain elevated during June-August, with supply likely to tighten because of lower summer sowing amid heat-related concerns in key northern growing states,” the report said.

Potato prices are also expected to inch up as the rabi harvest season concludes and higher priced cold-storage stock enters the market. Onions, too, are likely to become costlier in the coming months following an estimated 5% decline in rabi production this year, Crisil said.

On the other hand, the prices of pulses are expected to be subdued, supported by comfortable domestic availability. -Our Bureau