Homemade food becomes costlier by up to 20% due to a rise in vegetable prices
Vegetables Price Hike: The 'Roti Chawal Dar' report said that the increase in the prices of onion, potato, and tomato has made home-cooked food expensive. However, an 11% decline in fuel costs on an annual basis helped limit the rise in food costs. Vegetable prices also accounted for 22% of the cost of a non-vegetarian thali.
Due to the increase in the prices of vegetables, homemade food- both vegetarian and non-vegetarian- became more expensive by as much as 20% on a year-on-year basis in October 2024. According to the report released by rating agency Crisil on Wednesday, a vegetarian thali has turned costlier by 20% from Rs 27.8 a year ago to Rs 33.3 per plate. Its price was Rs 31.3 in September 2024. In the meantime, the non-vegetarian thali turned out to be dearer by 5.11% on a yearly basis to Rs 61.6 per plate. It was priced at Rs 58.6 in October 2023 and Rs 59.3 in September.
Roti Chawal Rate's report said a rise in the prices of onion, potato, and tomato resulted in an increase in the cost of homemade food. But an 11% year-on-year decline in fuel costs prevented a sharp rise in food costs. Prices of vegetables accounted for 22% of the cost of a non-vegetarian 'thali' also.
The report said Tomato prices in October rose 120.68% to Rs 64 per kg from Rs 29 in the same period a year ago. The arrival of tomatoes has been affected by rains. Onion prices are up 46% year-on-year. Potato prices up 51%.
Availability is getting improved for the first time, with supplies coming from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh. Prices are likely to even out from November. While the contribution of pulses towards a vegetarian thali is 11%, prices of pulses have risen by 11% in October. Pulses have become costly due to a shortage in the initial stocks and festival demand. However, the prices are likely to drop from December as new arrivals start.
