The RRR report said that the cost of veg and non-veg thalis declined 9% and 4% on-year, respectively, in May due to a 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, chicken, and eggs capped the reduction.
The decline in thali cost was supported by an on-year decline of 35% in vegetable prices and 19% in cooking oil prices in May. High prices of wheat, which spurted 8% on-year in May, has limited the decline in thali cost.
Prices of rice and pulses inched up 10% and 4% on-year, respectively, in May 2023, preventing further decline in the cost of a veg thali. Broiler prices are estimated to have risen by up to 2% on-year, limiting the decline in non-veg thali cost to a slower 4% on-year in the month.
However, month-on-month, chicken prices are estimated to have risen 5-7%, leading to 4% increase in non-veg thali cost