Home-Cooked Thalis Cost More: Non-Veg Up 9%, Veg Up 4%
By ThePip Desk
Home cooking costs surged in July. Vegetarian thalis rose 4% and non-vegetarian thalis jumped 9% year-on-year due to rising onion, oil, gas, and chicken prices.
Your kitchen budget probably felt a bit tighter last month. The cost of preparing a home-cooked meal saw a noticeable jump in July, making everyday eating a bit pricier for many households.
A recent Crisil Intelligence report reveals that a vegetarian thali became 4% more expensive year-on-year, while its non-vegetarian counterpart surged by 9% annually.
Key Ingredients Driving the Hike
For those sticking to vegetarian meals, the main culprits were onions, which saw a 20% increase, edible oil rising by 11%, and cooking gas cylinders going up by 10%.
Non-vegetarian thalis faced similar pressures from these items. Additionally, broiler chicken prices shot up by a significant 14%, contributing to nearly half the total cost of a non-vegetarian meal.
These price hikes stem from broader issues. Unseasonal rains and hailstorms in Maharashtra during March-April damaged onion crops, leading to persistent high prices. Global supply constraints and elevated energy prices from the West Asia conflict also pushed up costs for edible oil and cooking gas.
Some Relief from Produce
It wasn’t all bad news for grocery shoppers, though. Potato prices actually decreased by 12% year-on-year in July, thanks to improved production.
Tomato prices also fell by 2% due to late sowing and increased market arrivals. These reductions offered a small reprieve against the overall rising kitchen expenses.
Month-Over-Month Changes
Looking at the month-over-month figures, the vegetarian thali became approximately 2% more expensive in July compared to June. This was mainly due to a 23% increase in onion prices and a 4% rise in potato prices over the previous month.
Interestingly, the cost of the non-vegetarian thali remained relatively stable from June to July. A 2% decrease in broiler chicken prices helped to offset the rising costs of other ingredients during this period.
Overall, the report underscores how fluctuating commodity prices continue to impact household spending, making it essential to keep an eye on your grocery bills.