Fresh Vegetables Push FPI Down

Fresh Vegetables Push FPI Down

Food prices decreased 0.2 percent in August 2005, Statistics New Zealand said today. Prices were down for fruit and vegetables, but up slightly for meat, fish and poultry; restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food; and grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery.

Fruit and vegetable prices were down 2.7 percent, with the greatest contributions coming from avocados (down 41.5 percent) and broccoli (down 31.4 percent).

Meat, fish and poultry prices increased 0.1 percent in August 2005, strongly influenced by price increases for frozen chicken (up 7.9 percent).

Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices increased 0.2 percent in August 2005, along with grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery, which were up 0.1 percent. Within grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery, the most significant upward contributions came from chocolate confectionery (up 5.5 percent) and pies and pizzas (up 7.3 percent). These increases were partly offset by lower prices for bread and bread rolls (down 2.2 percent).

From August 2004 to August 2005, food prices increased 2.0 percent. Price increases were recorded for meat, fish and poultry (up 5.2 percent); grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery (up 1.9 percent); and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 2.5 percent). Prices for fruit and vegetables decreased 3.6 percent.

Brian Pink
Government Statistician

ENDS

There is a companion Hot Off The Press information release published – Food Price Index: August 2005.

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