Fruit and Vegetables Drive Food Prices Down

Fruit and Vegetables Drive Food Prices Down

Food prices decreased 0.8 percent in April 2005, according to the latest figures released by Statistics New Zealand. Prices decreased for fruit and vegetables, and for meat, fish and poultry. Prices increased for restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food, and for grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery.

Fruit and vegetable prices fell 5.5 percent in April 2005, strongly influenced by decreases in prices for fresh vegetables (down 9.2 percent). The most significant price decreases were for tomatoes (down 21.8 percent), cauliflower (down 30.6 percent) and potatoes (down 7.2 percent). Meat, fish and poultry prices decreased 1.2 percent, and lower prices were recorded for steak (down 4.1 percent).

In April 2005, prices increased for restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 0.2 percent), and for grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery (up 0.1 percent). Within grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery, the most significant contributions came from fruit juice (up 9.4 percent) and milk (up 1.3 percent). These were partly offset by lower prices for soup powder (down 11.6 percent) and potato crisps (down 4.9 percent).

From April 2004 to April 2005, food prices increased 0.4 percent. Price increases were recorded for restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 2.4 percent); meat, fish and poultry (up 2.5 percent); and grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery (up 0.7 percent). Prices for fruit and vegetables decreased 7.1 percent.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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