Crisil Report: Food Prices on the Rise in India in June

The latest Roti Rice Rate report published by Crisil revealed a significant increase in the cost of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals in India in June. According to this report, which has become an indicator of the country's food inflation, the cost of a home-cooked vegetarian meal increased by 5 percent compared to the same period last year. Similarly, the cost of a non-vegetarian meal also rose by 6 percent on an annual basis. It was stated that the increase in tomato, onion, cooking oil, and LPG cylinder prices were the determining factors in this rise. However, it was noted that the decrease in potato prices partially alleviated this economic pressure on households.

According to the report, the war in West Asia and weather-related challenges directly affect kitchen expenses. On a monthly basis (comparing June 2026 with May 2026), the cost of a vegetarian meal increased by 4 percent, while the cost of a non-vegetarian meal increased by 3 percent. During this one-month period, tomato prices rose by 17 percent, potato prices by 5 percent, and onion prices by 8 percent. Additionally, an increase of about 2 percent was observed in broiler chicken prices. This data reveals how quickly weather conditions and international tensions are reflected on market shelves and dining tables.

Tomatoes constituted one of the biggest problems in the price increases. According to the details of the Crisil report, in June 2026, tomato prices jumped by 31 percent compared to the same month of the previous year, reaching 42 Rupees per kilogram. In June of last year, this price was at the level of 32 Rupees per kilogram. The main reasons for this sharp increase in tomato prices were cited as the delay in summer cultivation and the decrease in production volume due to extreme heat experienced between February and March. Furthermore, the continued entry of expensive stocks from the Rabi season into the market kept onion prices under pressure, fueling overall food inflation.

Another significant item in kitchen expenses was the prices of cooking oil and LPG cylinders, explained as a direct consequence of the US-Iran war. According to the report, the prices of these two items increased by 10 percent on an annual basis. This rise in cooking oil and fuel prices directly and negatively affected the cost of cooking at home. In contrast, with the release of the fresh Rabi crop into the market, potato prices experienced a 14 percent decrease. This situation slightly curbed the overall increase in meal costs, providing consumers with a brief relief.

On the other hand, the main reason behind the higher rate of increase in the cost of non-vegetarian meals compared to vegetarian meals was the rise in broiler chicken prices. According to the report, broiler chicken prices increased by approximately 7 percent in June compared to June 2025. Due to extreme heat, an increased mortality rate among birds in poultry farms, slower growth rates, and an insufficient number of new chicks made chicken meat even more expensive. According to Crisil's calculations, broiler chicken constitutes about half of the total cost of a non-vegetarian meal. Therefore, this significant increase in chicken prices directly and strongly affected the overall cost of meat-based meals.