Food Prices Rise 0.8 Percent

Food Prices Rise 0.8 Percent

Food prices rose 0.8 percent in January 2003, according to latest figures released by Statistics New Zealand. The most significant increase in January 2003 came from higher fruit and vegetable prices (up 3.2 percent). These were driven by increased prices for fresh fruit (up 6.4 percent).

After adjusting for normal seasonal change, fruit and vegetable items that made significant upward contributions included apples (up 15.0 percent) and potatoes (up 9.5 percent). Significant downward contributions came from pumpkin (down 43.9 percent), kumara (down 23.8 percent), and oranges (down 19.3 percent).

Meat, fish and poultry prices rose by 1.1 percent in January 2003. The most significant upward contribution came from higher poultry prices (up 8.6 percent). Beef prices fell by 2.1 percent.

Grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery prices rose 0.3 percent in January 2003. The most significant upward contribution to the rise in January came from a 7.2 percent increase in fruit juice prices. This was partially offset by lower prices for frozen and chilled meat pies (down 9.5 percent).

Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices rose by 0.2 percent in January 2003.

Overall food prices were unchanged from January 2002 to January 2003. Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices made the only upward contribution, rising 3.0 percent in the year to January 2003. This was offset by falls in meat, fish and poultry prices (down 2.6 percent), grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery prices (down 0.4 percent), and fruit and vegetable prices (down 0.1 percent).

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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