The rising costs of sugar, onions, pulses, and edible oils threaten to keep household budgets under pressure in India, with global and seasonal factors driving persistent price hikes amidst government intervention efforts.
India’s kitchen budget is coming under fresh strain as prices of several staple foods climb, with sugar, onions, pulses and edible oils all turning dearer in recent days. The rise is adding to concerns that food inflation could remain sticky even as authorities try to steady supplies and prevent panic buying.
Sugar has been one of the sharpest movers. Business Today reported that retail prices have risen by as much as ₹7 a kilogram in the past week and by roughly ₹17 over the past month, taking some market rates to about ₹70 a kilogram. In response, the government has approved duty-free imports of up to 1 million tonnes of sugar until 31 October, set dealer stock limits until 30 November and asked mills to begin crushing earlier than usual so that supplies are available before the festival season.
Onions are also becoming costlier. Government data cited by Business Today put the average retail price at ₹40.79 a kilogram on 21 August, up from ₹36.56 a week earlier and ₹34.87 a month earlier. The report said the increase has been driven by a delay in arrivals of the new kharif crop, with some local markets seeing price gains of as much as 25%.
Pulses and edible oils are adding further pressure to household spending. Business Today said prices of arhar, moong, urad and chana have risen over the past month, while oils have become more expensive because of higher global palm oil prices, lower imports and the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war on sunflower oil supplies. Reuters-linked market reporting has pointed to a broader concern that edible oil inflation may stay elevated until the new crop arrives later in the year, while Crisil has said the cost of a home-cooked thali rose in July as onion and vegetable oil prices increased.
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