General Grocery Costs

[MotherBear]

Food prices rose 0.1pc in November

1.30pm Wednesday December 13, 2006

Food prices rose 0.1 per cent in November and were up 3.8 per cent in the year to November, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Rising prices for the grocery food subgroup were the main contributor, increasing 0.6 per cent. This increase was mainly driven by potato crisps (up 5.1 per cent), chocolate products (up 3.6 per cent) and confectionery products (up 4.2 per cent).

Prices for the fruit and vegetables subgroup fell 1.1 per cent, with the most significant downward contribution coming from tomatoes (down 23.4 per cent) and broccoli (down 40 per cent).

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

Over the year prices increased for all subgroups with fruit and vegetables up 18.3 per cent. Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food rose 2.8 per cent), grocery food 1.7 per cent, meat, poultry and fish 2.5 per cent, and non-alcoholic beverages 0.4 per cent.

- NZPA