Food prices have risen 7.4 over the past year, with increases across all food categories monitored by StatsNZ.
According to the latest data, released on Friday morning, food prices were 7.4 percent higher in July 2022 than in July 2021.
- grocery food prices increased by 7.5 percent
- restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices increased by 6.6 percent
- fruit and vegetable prices increased by 10 percent
- meat, poultry, and fish prices increased by 7.7 percent
- non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 4.6 percent.
Grocery food was the biggest contributor, followed by restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food.
"Increasing prices for cheddar cheese, standard two-litre milk, and yoghurt were the largest contributors within grocery food," StatsNZ consumer prices manager Fiona Smillie said.
The items within the restaurant meal and ready-to-eat food group that influenced the movement the most were eat-in lunch/brunch meals and ethnic takeaway meals (not including Chinese takeaways).
Prices jumped 2.1 percent from June 2022 to July 2022, or 1.1 percent after seasonal effects were included. A 10 percent jump in fruit and vege prices (or 3.1 percent after seasonal effects) was the biggest contributor here.
"Vegetables had the largest impact on this increase, influenced by higher prices for tomatoes, lettuce, and broccoli," Smillie said.
