Food Prices Rise

Embargoed until 10:45am – 25 October 2006

Food Prices Rise

Food prices rose 0.4 percent during September 2006, following a fall of 0.1 percent in August, Statistics New Zealand said today. Prices for the non-alcoholic beverages; meat, poultry and fish; fruit and vegetables; and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food subgroups all increased. Prices for the grocery food subgroup decreased.

Non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 3.0 percent in September 2006, with soft drinks being the main contributor, rising 4.5 percent.

Meat, poultry and fish prices increased 1.3 percent in September 2006, with prices for beef increasing 2.7 percent, prepared and processed meat rising 2.1 percent and lamb increasing 7.8 percent.

The fruit and vegetables subgroup also rose during September 2006 increasing 1.4 percent. The most significant upward contributions came from higher prices for bananas (up 26.3 percent) and broccoli (up 24.3 percent). These increases where offset by lower prices for cucumbers (down 37.5 percent) and grapes (down 23.8 percent).

Grocery food prices recorded the only subgroup downward movement, falling 0.8 percent in September 2006.

For the year to August 2006, food prices rose 3.9 percent. Prices increased for the fruit and vegetables (up 19.5 percent); restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 3.1 percent); meat, poultry and fish (up 2.6 percent); non-alcoholic beverages (up 3.9 percent); and grocery food (up 0.6 percent) subgroups.

Brian Pink
Government Statistician

ENDS

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