Dip in tomato prices helps bring down veg, non-veg thali prices in September: Report

The cost of veg and non-veg thalis in India witnessed a decline on a month-on-month basis in September thanks to falling tomato prices, a report said on Thursday. According to Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics' monthly indicator of food plate cost - Roti Rice Rate (RRR), the cost of veg and non-veg thalis fell by 17% and 9%, respectively, in September, compared to the previous month.

Tomato price, which declined 62%, month-on-month, to Rs 39 per kg in September from Rs 102 per kg in August, was a major factor for the decline in thali prices. On a year-on-year basis, however, the cost of veg thali was marginally down by 1 per cent in September, while the non-veg thali was marginally up by 0.65% due to high wheat and palm oil prices, the report said.

The report further revealed that onion prices rose by 12% month-on-month in September and are likely to remain firm as kharif 2023 output is expected to be muted. Meanwhile, the decline in the cost of a non-vegetarian thali was limited to 9% in September, as prices of broiler chicken, which is more than 50 per cent share in the total thali cost, witnessed a marginal increase of 2-3%, the report said.