Potato price surged 35 percent on a low base of last year to Rs31 per kg in January from Rs23 per kg in the same month last year. Similarly, prices of pulses rose by 7 percent YoY in January. This was due to an estimated 7 percent YoY fall in production in the previous season (July-June), resulting in a lower opening stock for the current season.
Adding to the cost was a 17 percent YoY jump in vegetable oil prices due to a rise in import duties, which has made imported oils more expensive.
“However, an 11 percent YoY drop in LPG fuel cost provided a partial offset. While a 2 percent and 5 percent decline in rice and tomato prices YoY prevented a further increase in costs," says Crisil.
Food inflation is gradually declining with the winter crop soothing prices. It was 8.4 percent in December after a high of 9 percent in November and 9.5 percent in October. Inflation has been above 5 percent in the food bucket for cereals, meat, eggs, oils, fruits and vegetables for several months.
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, cooking gas) driving changes in the cost of a thali.
(Forbes India"s monthly series "How India Eats" takes a look at how the average price of a food plate in India changes every month, indicating the impact on the common man"s expenditure, by analysing the Indian thali)
First Published: Feb 06, 2025, 14:00
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