Thali prices in May: Home-cooked food slightly more affordable; relief in veggies and broiler prices

Home cooking became a bit cheaper in May as vegetable prices went down, the Roti Rice Rate report by Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics said.The report released on Thursday stated that the average price of a home-made vegetarian thali slipped to Rs 26.2 in May 2025, down from Rs 26.3 in April and Rs 27.8 in the same month last year. The non-vegetarian version saw a steeper fall, dropping to Rs 52.6 from Rs 53.9 the previous month and Rs 55.9 in May 2024.The report, quoted by PTI, reflected a big drop in the prices of everyday vegetables compared to last year, tomatoes fell by 29%, onions by 15%, and potatoes by 16%. These three staples are essential to most Indian meals. Last year, these prices had surged due to crop issues, pest attacks, and water shortages in major producing states like Maharashtra, West Bengal and Karnataka.In case of non-vegetarian thalis, the price went down due to the 6% drop in broiler chicken prices, which make up half the overall cost. The fall was driven by oversupply and weaker demand following bird flu reports in parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.The drop in thali prices would have gone up further but was offset by 19% increase in vegetable oil prices due to the rise in import duties and 6% increase in LPG costs.Crisil intelligence director Pushan Sharma predicted a surge in vegetable prices going ahead driven by seasonal variations and a slight easing in prices of wheat and pulses amid strong domestic output.”He further added that rice exports may also go up by 20–25% due to India’s competitive pricing globally.On a monthly basis, tomato and potato prices edged up by 10% and 3% respectively, while onions continued to ease with a 10% decline. Broiler prices also fell 4% from April, offering further savings for meat-eating households.