Soaring Veggie Prices Turn Up the Heat on Home-Cooked Meals

September saw a significant rise in the costs of home-cooked vegetarian meals due to increased prices of key ingredients like onion, potato, and tomato. A report highlights an 11% hike in meal costs, driven by rising vegetable prices, while non-vegetarian meal costs slightly decreased due to falling broiler prices.

In a shift that has affected consumers nationwide, home-cooked meal prices have increased notably over the past year. A report released by domestic rating agency Crisil on Friday highlights that the cost of a vegetarian meal rose by 11% in September compared to the previous year, driven primarily by surging prices of staple vegetables like onion, potato, and tomato.

The report, aptly named 'roti, rice, rate', underscores the impact of price increases in onions, potatoes, and tomatoes, which jumped by 53%, 50%, and 18% respectively. These vegetables constitute a substantial portion of a typical vegetarian thali's cost. The price hikes were attributed to lower arrivals due to supply disruptions and adverse weather conditions in key regions.

While the cost of a non-vegetarian meal saw a slight reduction of 2% due to a decline in broiler prices, the overall trend indicates a challenging period for consumers reliant on home-cooking. The analysis emphasizes significant variations in food-related costs, impacted by both rising and falling prices across different categories.

(With inputs from agencies.)