Mumbai: In Mumbai, the traditional vegetarian thali, a staple meal comprising roti, vegetables, rice, dal, curd, and salad, saw a price hike of seven percent in February, primarily driven by a significant increase in the costs of onions and tomatoes. The price of a vegetarian thali rose to Rs 27.5, up from Rs 25.6 the previous year, marking a notable uptick in dining expenses for vegetarians.
The surge in prices is attributed to a 29 percent rise in onion prices and a 38 percent jump in tomato costs on an annual basis. Additionally, staples such as rice and pulses also witnessed a price escalation. Despite this, the vegetarian thali was slightly more affordable compared to January’s price of Rs 28.
Conversely, the non-vegetarian thali, which substitutes dal with chicken, became more budget-friendly, with a nine percent decrease in price, bringing it down to Rs 54 from the previous year’s Rs 59.2. This reduction is largely due to a 20 percent drop in ‘broiler’ chicken prices, which hold a substantial 50 percent weightage in the thali’s total cost.
However, it’s important to note that the price of the non-vegetarian thali did see a slight increase from January’s Rs 52. The report from CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analysis suggests that the decline in broiler chicken prices was offset by a 10 percent increase in February, amid a bird flu outbreak in Andhra Pradesh, which affected supply chains and spurred demand in anticipation of the holy month of Ramzan.
This price fluctuation reflects the dynamic nature of food costs and their impact on the affordability of everyday meals for the average Mumbaikar. The report indicates that while vegetarians faced steeper prices, non-vegetarians benefited from a cost reduction, albeit with a slight increase from the preceding month.
