Food prices up 0.4 percent in year to August – Media release
11 September 2015
In the year to August 2015, food prices increased 0.4 percent, Statistics New Zealand said today. This follows an
increase of 1.2 percent in the year to July.
“Fruit and vegetable prices increased 3.7 percent over the year, with higher prices for avocados, bananas, potatoes, and
lettuce," consumer prices manager Matt Haigh said. Fruit prices increased 9.6 percent in the year to August 2015, while
vegetable prices increased 0.5 percent. In August the average price of bananas was $3.02 per kilo, compared with $2.63
per kilo a year ago.
Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices rose 1.9 percent, while non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 0.9 percent.
Meat, poultry, and fish prices remained unchanged overall, with increases for beef and pork offset by lower prices for
chicken.
Lower prices for grocery food (down 1.8 percent, to their lowest level in five years) were influenced by lower prices
for fresh milk, cheese, and butter. Fresh milk prices are now at the lowest level since August 2013. Lower cheese prices
(down 8.9 percent) were influenced by more discounting.
Lower grocery prices push food prices down 0.5 percent in August
In the August month, food prices fell 0.5 percent. This follows a 0.6 percent rise in July and a 0.5 percent rise in
June.
Grocery food prices fell 1.8 percent, with lower prices for cheese and for snack foods. Meat, poultry, and fish prices
also fell 1.8 percent, influenced by lower prices for chicken, processed meat, and beef.
These falls were partly offset by higher prices for fruit and vegetables (up 3.1 percent). Vegetable prices rose 4.6
percent in the month, influenced by higher prices for tomatoes. However, after adjusting for seasonal influences
vegetable prices fell 0.4 percent. Fruit prices rose 0.8 percent, and rose 2.9 percent after seasonal adjustment. This
was influenced by higher prices for bananas.
Ends
For more information about these statistics:
• Visit Food Price Index: August 2015
• Open the attached files