Food plate costs ease in October as vegetable, pulse prices decline

The cost of a home-cooked meal eased in October as food prices moderated across key ingredients. The latest Roti Rice Rate (RRR) report by Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics shows that the average price of a vegetarian thali fell 17 per cent year-on-year, while a non-vegetarian thali became 12 per cent cheaper. The decline was driven largely by lower prices of vegetables and pulses, even as cooking oil and fuel costs edged up during the festive season.

Sharp fall in vegetable, pulse prices leads decline

Vegetable prices saw a steep drop compared to last year, providing major relief to households. Onion prices plummeted 51 per cent as traders offloaded Rabi season stocks ahead of the fresh Kharif harvest expected this month. Subdued exports and high domestic availability also kept prices in check.

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Tomato prices declined 40 per cent year-on-year, supported by ample supply from western and southern states, while potato prices fell 31 per cent due to strong Rabi output, which rose about 3–4 per cent compared to the previous year. Together, these declines significantly reduced the overall cost of vegetarian thalis.

Pulse imports ease pressure on food bills

Prices of pulses fell 17 per cent year-on-year, easing household budgets further. The fall came on the back of higher imports of key pulses such as Bengal gram, yellow pea, and black gram. Data from the report shows that imports of Bengal gram rose nine-fold in the last fiscal year, while yellow pea and black gram imports were up 85 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively. The strong inflow improved availability in the domestic market, helping cool prices across categories.

Cooking oil and LPG limit overall fall

Despite the broad decline in food costs, the prices of vegetable oils increased 11 per cent year-on-year, reflecting stronger demand during the festive season. Similarly, the price of an LPG cylinder rose 6 per cent year-on-year, limiting the extent of the overall decline in thali costs.

In the non-vegetarian segment, broiler chicken prices fell only 6 per cent compared to last year. Since poultry meat makes up nearly half the cost of a non-vegetarian thali, the smaller decline in broiler prices meant a more modest drop in total cost compared to the vegetarian version.

Month-on-month decline moderate

On a month-on-month basis, thali prices moved only slightly. The average cost of a vegetarian thali fell 1 per cent in October, while non-vegetarian thalis were cheaper by around 3 per cent. Month-on-month, onion prices slipped 3 per cent and tomato prices fell 8 per cent, while other ingredients remained broadly stable.

Broiler prices also declined about 4 per cent over September amid oversupply, leading to a minor drop in the overall cost of non-vegetarian meals.

Inflation data shows broad relief

The easing thali prices mirror the broader trend of moderation in food inflation. India’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 1.54 per cent in September 2025 - the lowest reading since June 2017. The decline has been supported by favourable base effects and falling prices of vegetables, pulses, edible oils, cereals, fruits, eggs, and fuel.

Retail inflation data for October is expected this week and will indicate whether the cooling trend in food costs continues into the festive quarter. The current moderation is expected to support household consumption as food remains the single largest component of spending for most families.