Informist New Delhi

The cost of home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis declined 6% each on year in May, according to a report by CRISIL Intelligence on Thursday. The price of a vegetarian meal in May was INR 26.2, while that of a non-vegetarian meal was INR 52.6, it said. The price of a vegetarian meal fell mainly due to a sharp drop in prices of key vegetables led by a high base, the report said.

Tomato prices were down 29% at INR 23 per kg in May from INR 33 per kg during the same period last year. Prices of onion and potato declined 15% and 16% on year, respectively. Price of potato had shot up a year ago due to crop damage from blight infestation and unseasonal rainfall in West Bengal, while onion prices had increased due to lower rabi acreage and yield, the report said. 

A 19% on-year jump in vegetable oil prices due to higher import duty and a 6% on-year rise in the price of liquefied petroleum gas cylinders prevented a further drop in the cost of the thali, the report pointed out.  

The drop in vegetable prices also helped keep the cost of a non-vegetarian thali low. Moreover, an estimated 6% on-year decline in the price of broiler made non-vegetarian thalis cheaper. Broiler prices account for 50% of the cost of non-vegetarian thalis.

The cost of broiler declined due to oversupply and lower demand amid bird flu reported in parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, the report said.   While prices of the vegetarian thali fell on year, they remained steady on month. According to the report, potato and tomato prices rose 3% and 10% on month, respectively.