The cost of home-cooked vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis declined by 4% year-on-year in April, driven primarily by a sharp fall in vegetable prices, according to a Crisil report.

Despite higher prices for cooking essentials like LPG and edible oils, the overall cost of meals saw a decrease.

The reduction in prices was mainly attributed to a drop in vegetable prices, with tomatoes, potatoes, and onions seeing significant year-on-year price decreases. Tomato prices, for instance, dropped by 34%, while potatoes fell by 11% and onions saw a 6% decline.

On the other hand, the prices of edible oils and LPG saw an increase, with LPG cylinder prices rising by 6% and vegetable oils increasing by 19%. However, experts predict that edible oil prices may soften in the coming months as global supply chains improve.

The report also noted a price drop in broiler chicken, which makes up a significant portion of non-vegetarian thali costs. Broiler chicken prices fell by 4% due to oversupply and weakened demand following bird flu outbreaks in various states.

On a month-to-month basis, vegetarian thali prices dropped by 1%, while non-vegetarian thali prices saw a nearly 2% decline, mainly due to the reduction in vegetable prices.

While the cost relief was seen in the vegetable sector, experts remain cautious about the potential increase in rice prices due to rising exports, and seasonal fluctuations in tomato prices.