Food prices up 2% in July
Yoghurt and lamb prices hit record levels.
Food prices rose 2.0% in July 2011 and were up 7.9% on a year earlier, Statistics NewZealand said today.
Vegetable prices rose 14.2% and accounted for more than half of the rise in July, mainly due to tomatoes and green vegetables.
There were seasonal price rises for tomatoes (up 34.0%), lettuce (up 20.7%), broccoli (up 66.6%), capsicums (up 28.6%), and cucumber (up 20.7%).
"Tomato prices averaged $13.25 per kg in July, reflecting a supply shortage," Statistics NZ prices manager Chris Pike said.
The meat, poultry, and fish subgroup (up 3.7 percent), also made a significant upward contribution to the food price increase, reflecting higher prices for fresh chicken (up 8.6%).
Lamb prices rose 7.7% and are now at their highest-recorded level.
In July 2011, grocery food prices rose 0.5%, reflecting higher prices for yoghurt (up 14.7%), also at their highest-recorded level.
In the year to July 2011, food prices rose 7.9%. This includes a 2.2% rise in October 2010, when goods and services tax rose.
All subgroups recorded increases: grocery food (up 7.2%), fruit and vegetables (up 15.9%), meat, poultry, and fish (up 6.8 percent), non-alcoholic beverages (up 9.0%), and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 4.2%).
Niko Kloeten
Thu, 25 Aug 2011
Thu, 25 Aug 2011
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Food prices up 2% in July
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