Prices of tomatoes rose by 233 per cent — to Rs 110 per kg in July from Rs 33 per kg in June
The cost of making a thali (platter) at home increased significantly for the third consecutive month, according to analytical company Crisil.
Soaring tomato prices pushed the cost of vegetarian thali by 34 per cent in July, pointed out Roti Rice Rate — Crisil’s monthly indicator of food plate cost. The cost of preparing a thali at home is calculated based on the prices of vegetables and cereals in north, south, east and west India.
Of the 34 per cent surge in the cost of a vegetarian thali, 25 per cent can be attributed solely to tomato prices. Prices of tomatoes rose by 233 per cent — to Rs 110 per kg in July from Rs 33 per kg in June — Crisil pointed out.
Also read: Just why are tomato prices going north? Dalwai Report offers clues
“The ongoing spike in tomato prices is not expected to moderate before the end of August at the earliest, while other vegetable prices have also risen in the last couple of weeks,” Madhavi Arora, an economist, told The Times of India.
While non-vegetarian thali also felt the heat of inflationary prices, it was relatively less impacted. The cost of preparing a non-veg platter increased by 13 per cent. The slower pace of price rise owes to a dip in broiler prices which comprise more than 50 per cent of the meal’s cost. Prices of broilers likely declined 3-5 per cent in July.
In addition, onion and potato prices increased by 16 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively, adding further to food prices. Though chilli and cumin also became more expensive, the use of lower quantities of these ingredients makes them less sensitive to price surges.
The prices of these ingredients rose by 69 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively, in July.
The analysis comes when experts are pitching India’s July retail inflation rates close to or over 6 per cent (the upper tolerance limit set by the Reserve Bank of India).
Though the central bank arrested consumer price index-based inflation to a two-year low of 4.25 per cent in May through a set of aggressive measures, the retail inflation surged to a three-month high of 4.81 per cent in June.
This pattern is being driven by an ongoing rise in the cost of essential commodities.
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