The average cost of a thali is calculated based on input prices prevailing in north, south, east, and west India. Monthly change reflects the impact on the common man’s expenditure. The data also reveals the ingredients (cereals, pulses, broiler, vegetables, spices, edible oil, cooking gas) driving changes in the cost of a thali.

Getting dearer

• The cost of veg and non-veg thali alike, on the decline since October 2022, nosed up on a sequential basis in May and further in June 2023
  • Elevated prices of tomato on - month in June has led to increase in cost of both thalis
  • Further, tur and gram prices increased ~3% on-month in June, contributing to the sequential increase

• On-year, however, the cost of both veg and non-veg thalis declined 5% in June 2023 due to steep decline in prices of vegetables and cooking oil - which account for ~25% of the total cost of a veg thali - but increase in prices of cereals, pulses and chicken capped the reduction
  • The decline in thali cost was supported by an on-year decline of ~15% in onion and potato prices and 20% in cooking oil prices in June
  • High prices of wheat atta, which spurted 9% on-year in June, has limited the decline in thali cost
  • Prices of rice and pulses inched up 12% and 8% on-year, respectively, in June, preventing further decline in the cost of a veg thali
  • Broiler prices are estimated to have declined by up to 4% onyear, supporting the decline in the cost of a non-veg thali