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.

Broiler on the boil

• The rise in vegetarian thali cost was driven by an increase in tomato and potato prices, which collectively account for ~24% of the cost of a thali
  
  • Tomato price rose 24% to Rs 47/kg in Dec'24 from Rs 38/kg in Dec'23
  • Potato price surged 50% on a low base last year to Rs 36/kg in Dec'24 from Rs 24/kg in Dec’23 due to an estimated 6% on-year decline in production
  • Adding to the cost was a 16% onyear jump in vegetable oil prices due to import-duty hike, coupled with higher demand during the festive and wedding seasons
• However, an 11% on-year drop in LPG fuel cost (to Rs 803 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder in Delhi from Rs 903 last year) provided a partial offset
• The increase in non-vegetarian thali cost was driven by an estimated 20% on-year rise in the price of broiler, which accounts for ~50% of a non-vegetarian thali cost. The sharp surge in broiler prices is attributable to a low base of last year, when production was high.
  

On-month, the cost of a vegetarian thali declined 3% in Dec’24, while the cost of a non-vegetarian thali is estimated to have increased at a similar pace:

• Tomato prices fell 12% on-month, helped by fresh supplies from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat
• A 2% and 12% on-month drop in potato and onion prices, respectively, further supported the price decline
• The cost of non-vegetarian thali grew at a faster pace due to an estimated 11% on-month increase in broiler prices on a dip in production triggered by a cold wave in the north. This, coupled with a rise in festive- and wedding-season demand, along with an elevated feed cost, exacerbated the woes.