Avocado and tomatoes lead annual food price rise

Avocado and tomatoes lead annual food price rise

12 May 2016

Food prices increased 0.5 percent in the year to April 2016, led by higher prices for fruit and vegetables (up 8.9 percent) than in 2015, Statistics New Zealand said today.

“The average price for tomatoes in April 2016 was $6.70 a kilo, up from $4.81 a kilo a year ago,” consumer prices manager Matt Haigh said. "Avocado prices more than doubled from April 2015 and were at their highest level since July 2005."

Grocery food prices decreased 1.7 percent in the year to April 2016, influenced by lower prices for milk (down 10 percent) and yogurt (down 11 percent). These decreases were partly offset by higher prices for chocolate (up 5.6 percent) and butter (up 18 percent).

Meat poultry and fish prices decreased 2.7 percent for the latest year, with lower prices for chicken (down 7.7 percent), processed meats (down 3.9 percent), and lamb (down 8.8 percent).

Vegetable prices rise 6.3 percent in April month

Monthly food prices were up 0.3 percent in April 2016, following a 0.5 percent rise in March. The latest rise was mainly influenced by vegetable prices, which rose 4.8 percent after seasonal adjustment, with higher prices for tomatoes and cucumbers.

Meat, poultry, and fish prices fell 1.7 percent, with lower prices for beef (down 3.9 percent) and chicken (down 2.3 percent). The average price of one kilo of porterhouse steak was $28.92, down 4.8 percent from a record high price of $30.37 in March 2016.

While non-alcoholic beverage prices fell 0.2 percent for the month, the restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food and the grocery food subgroups rose 0.2 and 0.1 percent, respectively.

For more information about these statistics:

• Visit Food Price Index: April 2016

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