“Moisture can cause clumping and prolonged storage in unhygienic conditions can lead to infestation and wastage, which could wipe out the benefit of buying in bulk,” Hiten added.
According to the Price Monitoring Division, sugar is not the only kitchen staple to have seen significant price movements. Sunflower oil has recorded one of the sharpest increases in Telangana, rising from Rs 110.50 per kg in August 2024 to Rs 192.73 in August 2026 — a 74.4% increase. Karnataka recorded a 68.1% rise, from Rs 114.38 to Rs 192.25, while Tamil Nadu saw a 67.3% increase, from Rs 115.71 to Rs 193.58. Andhra Pradesh recorded a 63.4% rise, from Rs 115.50 to Rs 188.67.
The longer-term picture, however, is less dramatic. Telangana’s sunflower oil price was Rs 179 per kg in August 2022, making the increase to Rs 192.73 in 2026 just 7.7%. Prices had fallen considerably by 2024 before rising again.
Rice, another major component of the food basket, has also become costlier over five years. In Telangana, prices rose from Rs 41.80 per kg in August 2022 to Rs 57.64 in August 2026, an increase of 37.9% — the highest among the four southern states compared. Karnataka recorded a 27.9% rise, from Rs 48.25 to Rs 61.72, while Tamil Nadu saw a 24.4% increase, from Rs48.44 to Rs 60.25. AP recorded an 8.7% rise, from Rs 51 to Rs 55.44.
Not all commodities have moved upwards. Toor dal (pigeon pea) has fallen substantially from its 2024 peak. In Telangana, its price rose from Rs 99.20 per kg in 2022 to Rs 163.50 in 2024 before declining to Rs 124.73 in 2026. The latest price is 23.7% below the 2024 level, though still 25.7% above the 2022 price. AP saw toor dal prices fall from Rs 166.25 in 2024 to Rs 117 in 2026, while Karnataka recorded a decline from Rs 163.86 to Rs 121. Tamil Nadu saw prices fall from Rs 172.89 to Rs 131.31.