Butter at Record $5.67 a Block
Rising dairy prices have pushed food prices up 2.7 percent in the year to October 2017, Stats NZ said today. This
followed a 3.0 percent increase in the year to September 2017.
Butter prices led the way again – up 62 percent from the same time last year. Milk and cheese prices also increased (up
7.5 and 12 percent respectively) and had large contributions to the increase in food prices seen in the year to October
2017.
“Dairy products are very widely used inputs in a number of food items,” consumers price index manager Matthew Haigh
said. “The effects of price rises flow on to products such as takeaway biscuits, buns, cakes and coffee, and eating out
for lunch and dinner, all of which saw increases in the year to
October 2017.”
Butter prices continued to climb to another record high in October. The average price of the cheapest available 500g
block of butter was $5.67 in October 2017, compared with $5.55 in September 2017 and $3.50 in October 2016.
High vegetable prices for this time of the year
Monthly food prices fell 1.1 percent in October 2017, with tomato, lettuce, cucumber, and capsicum prices showing large
seasonal falls. Tomato prices were down to $7.68 a kilo, compared with $10.02 in September 2017, however, prices
remained considerably higher than the $6.83 per kilo in October 2016.
Fruit and vegetable prices fell 6.8 percent in October, making it the largest contributor to the monthly decrease. After
seasonal adjustment, however, fruit and vegetable prices fell 1.3 percent.
“Although fruit and vegetable prices have dropped this month, the impact of bad weather earlier in the year continues to
cause higher prices compared with this time last year,” Mr Haigh said. “Kumara, pumpkin, and avocados have seen the
largest increases since October last year.”
Luncheon sausage is out, olives are in
We introduced new items to our basket of food items in October 2017. We’ve also adjusted their relative importance so
that we continue to reflect New Zealanders’ evolving purchasing habits. For more, see Olives squeeze out luncheon
sausage.
ENDS