Grocery Food Nudges Food Prices Up

Embargoed until 10:45am – 13 December 2006

Grocery Food Nudges Food Prices Up

Food prices increased 0.1 percent during November 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today. Rising prices for the grocery food subgroup were the main contributor, increasing 0.6 percent. This increase was mainly driven by potato crisps (up 5.1 percent), chocolate products (up 3.6 percent) and confectionery products (up 4.2 percent).

Prices for the fruit and vegetables subgroup fell 1.1 percent, with the most significant downward contribution coming from tomatoes (down 23.4 percent) and broccoli (down 39.6 percent).

In the non-alcoholic beverage subgroup prices also decreased (down 1.5 percent). The most significant downward contribution came from lower prices for soft drinks (down 3.0 percent).

For the year to November 2006, food prices rose 3.8 percent. Prices increased for all subgroups: fruit and vegetables (up 18.3 percent), restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 2.8 percent), grocery food (up 1.7 percent), meat, poultry and fish (up 2.5 percent), and non-alcoholic beverages (up 0.4 percent).

Brian Pink
Government Statistician

ENDS

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