WELLINGTON, Sept 13 (NNN-XINHUA) – New Zealand’s annual food prices were 8.9 percent higher in Aug, 2023, than in Aug, 2022, indicating a slower growth, according to the statistics department, Stats NZ, today.
Last month’s figure showed the annual food prices were 9.6 percent higher in Jul, 2023, than in Jul, 2022.
In Aug, the annual increase was due to rises across all the broad food categories measured, Stats NZ’s consumer prices manager, James Mitchell, said.
The largest contributing food group was grocery food, which includes non-perishables and dairy products, Mitchell said, adding, fresh eggs, potato crisps, and six-pack yogurt were the largest drivers within grocery food.
The second largest contributor to the annual movement was restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food, he said, adding, the increase in this group was driven by the same contributors as last month, which were dine-in lunch or brunch, takeaway meals, and dine-in evening meals.
“Prices for fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, grapes, cucumbers, and nectarines contributed the most to the overall monthly rise,” Mitchell said.– NNN-XINHUA
