In the year to September 2015, food prices increased 0.7 per cent, Statistics New Zealand said today. This follows an increase of 0.4 per cent in the year to August.

“Fruit and vegetable prices increased 5.3 per cent over the year, with higher prices for avocados, lettuce, potatoes, and bananas,” consumer prices manager, Matt Haigh, said. Fruit prices increased 7.8 per cent, while vegetable prices increased 3.9 per cent.

Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices rose two per cent. Meat, poultry, and fish prices increased 0.7 per cent, with increases for beef, partly offset by lower prices for chicken and lamb. Beef prices are now at their highest levels, reflecting higher prices for minced beef and porterhouse steak. Minced beef prices are now at a peak of $14.38 per kilo, compared with $12.33 per kilo a year ago.

Lower grocery food prices, which are down 1.5 per cent and now at the same level as September 2010, were influenced by lower prices for fresh milk, yoghurt, cheese, and cakes and biscuits. Fresh milk prices, down 6.1 per cent, are now at their lowest level since August 2013. Lower yoghurt prices, down 13 per cent, were influenced by more discounting.

Lower fruit and vegetable prices have pushed food prices down 0.5 per cent in September

In the September month, food prices fell 0.5 per cent. This follows a 0.5 per cent fall in August and a 0.6 per cent rise in July. Seasonally adjusted food prices rose 0.1 per cent in September.

Fruit and vegetable prices fell five per cent in September, with lower prices for tomatoes, lettuce, capsicums, and cucumber. Vegetable prices fell 7.9 per cent, while fruit prices fell 0.3 per cent. After adjusting for seasonal influences, vegetable prices fell 0.3 per cent and fruit prices also fell 0.3 per cent.

Higher prices for meat, poultry, and fish, up 1.8 per cent, were influenced by higher prices for beef, which are now at their highest level, and processed meat. These rises were partly offset by lower prices for pork. Grocery food prices rose 0.2 per cent, with higher prices for snack foods and sauces.