Food prices flat in August

Photo / Martin Sykes

Food prices were flat in August as lower fruit and vegetable prices were offset by higher grocery food, poultry, and non-alcoholic beverage prices, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said today.

Food prices were down 0.1 per cent last month, following increases of 1.6 per cent in July and 1.3 per cent in June.

The fruit and vegetable subgroup fell 3.7 per cent, influenced by vegetable prices dropping 5.8 per cent, while fruit prices fell 0.2 per cent.

SNZ said vegetable prices usually decrease in August, and the most significant downward contribution came from tomatoes, down 17.9 per cent, cucumber, down 20.9 per cent, nectarine, down 24.8 per cent, and potato, down 7.4 per cent.

On the other hand, grocery food prices rose 0.6 per cent; meat, poultry and fish prices rose 0.8 per cent; and non-alcoholic beverages prices rose 0.9 per cent.

SNZ said the most significant individual contributions came from higher prices for fresh chicken, up 9.1 per cent, yoghurt, up 5.2 per cent, and minced beef, up 5 per cent.

For the year to August, food prices fell 0.2 per cent - the fourth consecutive month of annual falls, which has not occurred since May 2000.

Fruit and vegetable prices dropped 4.7 per cent, and meat, poultry, and fish prices fell 1.6 per cent. While non-alcoholic beverages were down 0.2 per cent.

SNZ said the falls were partly offset by prices rises for grocery food, up 1.2 per cent, and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food, up 1.8 per cent.

- NZPA