The average cost of preparing a thali at home is calculated based on input prices prevailing in north, south, east and west India. The monthly change reflects the impact on the common man’s expenditure. The data also reveals the ingredients (cereals, pulses, broilers, vegetables, spices, edible oil and cooking gas) driving the change in the cost of the thali.

On-year, the cost of home-cooked vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian thalis declined 4% in April

• The on-year decline in the cost of a vegetarian thali was because of a sharp fall in the prices of vegetables
  
  • Tomato prices declined 34% on-year to Rs 21/kg from Rs 32/kg in April 2024, owing to a high base effect amid low crop yield last year
    
  • Potato prices fell 11% on-year on a high base of last year, when the crop was affected by blight infestation and unseasonal rainfall in West Bengal. Onion prices also declined 6% on a high base.
    
• A 19% on-year jump in vegetable oil prices due to a rise in import duty and 6% on-year rise in LPG cylinder prices curtailed a further decline in the cost of both thalis
  
  • Along with decline in vegetable prices, an estimated 4% on-year decline in broiler prices- which comprises ~50% of a non-vegetarian thali’s cost - lowered the cost of a non-vegetarian thali as well. The dip in broiler prices was on account of oversupply and lower demand amid bird flu reported in Maharashtra,Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka

• On-month, the cost of vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis declined 1% and ~2%, respectively, in April 
  • A 2% and 14% on-month fall in potato and onion prices, respectively, contributed towards the dip in the cost of the thalis; tomato prices, though, rose a slight 1%
    
  • An estimated 2% on-month decline in broiler prices further lowered the cost of a non-vegetarian thali