With the festive season approaching—from Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami to Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali—rising food prices have become a major concern for households across the country. According to the latest data released by the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Price Monitoring System, prices of 15 out of 16 essential food items have increased over the past five months, putting additional pressure on monthly household expenses.
Among all essential commodities, pulses have witnessed the sharpest price hike. Tur dal has increased by nearly ₹6 per kilogram, taking its average price to ₹123.46 per kg. Chana dal is now priced at ₹86.66 per kg, while urad dal has reached ₹121.51 per kg, significantly raising kitchen expenses for middle- and lower-middle-income families.
The continued rise in the prices of daily essentials is expected to impact household budgets further during the festive season, when spending typically increases. Consumers are likely to feel the burden of higher grocery bills unless prices stabilize in the coming weeks.
