Thali prices rise in June: Tomatoes get 36% pricier; broiler and potato also add to pinch

The cost of a home-cooked meal rose in June compared to the previous month, driven mainly by a sharp increase in tomato prices, according to a report, released by Crisil, on Tuesday.Crisil’s monthly ‘Roti, Rice, Rate’ report revealed that a vegetarian thali cost Rs 27.1 in June, up 3% from Rs 26.2 in May. The price of a non-vegetarian thali also rose, climbing 4% to Rs 54.8 from Rs 52.6.The increase in thali prices was largely attributed to a 36% spike in tomato prices, triggered by an 8% drop in arrivals. Potatoes also saw a 4% rise in cost, adding to the overall burden on households. For non-vegetarian meals, a 5% rise in broiler prices contributed further to the uptick.Pushan Sharma, director at Crisil market intelligence and analytics, said that thali prices are likely to inch up further in the near term due to seasonal factors driving vegetable prices higher. Onion prices are expected to rise moderately due to limited fresh supply and controlled release of rabi stock, while poor summer sowing will likely keep tomato prices elevated.However, on a year-on-year basis, both thali types were cheaper. Vegetarian meal prices dropped 8% and non-vegetarian thalis were down 6%, this was majorly due to the high price base recorded in June 2024.