After five months of falling food prices, the bill for feeding the family started to go up again in January as milk, fruit and vegetables became more expensive, figures show.Food prices increased 2.1 percent last month, following five consecutive monthly
After five months of falling food prices, the bill for feeding the family started to go up again in January as milk, fruit and vegetables became more expensive, figures show.
Food prices increased 2.1 percent last month, following five consecutive monthly falls in the food price index and prices have now returned to levels last seen in September last year, Statistics New Zealand said today.
Significant contributions to the January increase came from higher prices for grocery food, fruit and vegetables, and meat, poultry and fish.
Grocery food prices rose 1.8 percent in January, ending a run of five consecutive monthly falls.
Dairy prices rose in January, with higher prices for milk, yoghurt, butter, and cheese.
"Milk prices rose 5.1 percent in January to levels last seen in September 2008," prices manager Chris Pike said.
Fruit and vegetable prices rose 4.8 percent, with higher prices for tomatoes and seasonal price rises for kiwifruit, broccoli, and apples.
Meat, poultry, and fish prices rose 3.3 percent, with higher prices for chicken.
For the year to January 2010, food prices rose 2.2 percent.
"Although food prices are now 2.2 percent higher than a year ago, they are 12.0 percent higher than two years ago," Mr Pike said.
Four subgroups recorded annual increases: grocery food was up 1.7 percent, non-alcoholic beverages were up 6.2 percent, restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food were up 2.8 percent and meat, poultry, and fish were up 3 percent.
The fruit and vegetable subgroup fell 1 percent in the year to January 2010.
