India, March 18 -- The cost of India's most affordable meals is rising sharply, with a nationwide LPG shortage forcing both street vendors and restaurants to increase prices, squeezing daily consumers and threatening small food businesses.

A survey conducted across 309 districts shows that more than half of consumers have seen food prices rise in just one week, pointing to a fast-spreading impact on urban food affordability. The findings reveal that 57 per cent of consumers who ate at restaurants or ordered food recently reported a noticeable increase in prices. In many cases, the hikes were steep, with one in five consumers saying prices had risen by more than 25 per cent.

Street food, often the cheapest option for millions, has not be...