New Delhi, Dec. 9 -- Indian households got some relief in November as the cost of preparing both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals fell 13% from a year earlier, according to Crisil's monthly Roti Rice Rate index. The decline, driven largely by softer prices of vegetables and pulses, marks one of the steepest annual drops in thali prices in recent months and offers some respite to consumers after a period of uneven food inflation. The Crisil report tracks the movement in key kitchen staples across regions and reflects how changing commodity prices influence the daily food budget. Crisil's analysis shows a significant correction in prices of tomatoes, onions and potatoes, which form the base of most home-cooked meals. Tomato prices fell 17% year-over-year due to higher supplies, while potato prices dropped 29% year-on-year on a high base, and onion prices slid 53% as large stocks from the previous rabi season, combined with weak exports, eased pressure. Pulses also became cheaper, falling 17%, after higher imports of Bengal gram, yellow peas and black gram in FY26 increased domestic supply and brought prices down. The non-vegetarian thali also became cheaper, falling 13% on-year and 1% month-on-month as broiler prices declined by 12% in November. Chicken accounts for roughly half the cost of a non-vegetarian plate, and the report notes a sizable drop due to oversupply in the market. Lower vegetable and pulse prices reinforced the decline, though the fall was partially offset by a 6% rise in vegetable oil prices during the festival season and a similar increase in domestic LPG cylinder prices, both of which added to cooking costs. On a month-on-month basis, the picture was mixed. The cost of a vegetarian thali rose 2% in November because potato and tomato prices increased by 5% and 14%, respectively, after earlier declines. The cost of a non-vegetarian thali dipped 1% on account of an estimated 5% fall in broiler prices amid oversupply in the market. The easing in thali costs comes at a time when policymakers are closely watching food inflation, which has been volatile this year due to weather disruptions, uneven supply cycles and export restrictions. Economists say sustained softness in these categories will be crucial for stabilising retail inflation, given their outsized weight in the consumption basket. "In November, the cost of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis fell 13% year-on-year mainly because vegetable and pulse prices eased. Tomato arrivals improved, potato prices corrected from a high base, and onion prices dropped sharply due to abundant rabi stock and subdued exports. Pulse prices softened as higher imports last fiscal increased domestic availability," said Pushan Sharma, director, Crisil Intelligence. Over the medium term, onion prices are expected to firm up because of delayed kharif harvesting and lower yields. "Potato prices, however, are likely to moderate further as cold-storage stocks are released into the market. Prices of pulses are expected to remain range-bound in the near term, shaped by two key factors: first, the 30% import duty on yellow pea, which lends upside support, and second, unrestricted imports of black gram, which limit steep price increases," said Sharma. Any additional policy intervention, such as extending or altering import duties, could exert further upward pressure on pulse prices, Sharma added. The drop in prices comes in the backdrop of India's retail inflation easing to 0.25% in October, down from 1.44% the previous month. This is the third time in four months that the consumer price index (CPI) inflation has come in below the lower tolerance limit of the Reserve Bank of India's 2-6% target band....