Household food expenses saw nuanced shifts in February, with Crisil Intelligence noting zero year-on-year movement in home-made vegetarian thali prices and a welcome 3 percent decline in non-vegetarian ones.
Vegetarian stability persisted despite favorable trends in staples—onions down 24 percent from bumper arrivals, potatoes 13 percent lower on harvest highs and rabi stock clearances, pulses off 9 percent due to surplus opening inventory. Tomatoes’ price hike balanced the equation.
Computed from raw prices across India’s four directional markets, these figures gauge real wallet strain for the average family.
Chicken-led non-veg savings came via 7 percent cheaper broilers year-on-year, comprising 50 percent of costs.
Delving deeper, Sharma of Crisil pointed to transplantation delays crippling tomato output, with 32 percent fewer arrivals in key months ending January 2026.
Outlook points to easing: tomatoes higher than last year until April’s midpoint, then firming with new cycles. Potatoes bottom out soon, onions vulnerable short-term sans export rally.
Basmati exporters eye Middle East risks warily—disruptions could pressure prices amid 70 percent+ regional dependence. African non-basmati flows appear resilient.