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 and cooking gas) driving the change in the cost of the thali.

Cooling poultry

On-year, the cost of the representative home-cooked veg thali rose 7% in February, while that of the non-veg thali declined 9%, as per CRISIL MI&A Research estimates:

• The cost of the veg thali increased due to a surge of 29% and 38% on-year in prices of onion and tomato, respectively
• Prices of rice (accounting for 12% of the veg thali cost) and pulses (9%) also increased 14% and 20% on-year, respectively
• The decrease in the cost of the non-veg thali was due to a decline of ~20% on-year in broiler prices on a high base of last fiscal
  

On-month, however, the cost of the veg thali declined 2% and non-veg thali rose 4%:

• The cost of the veg thali eased due to a decline of 14% and 3% on-month in prices of onion and potato, respectively, while prices of tomato and pulses remained flat
• The cost of the non-veg thali rose as prices of broilers, which account for ~50% of the cost, increased an estimated 10% on monthdue to lower supply amid the spread of bird flu in Andhra Pradesh and increasing temperatures, as well as rising demand ahead of Ramadan