14 Feb 2012

Food price index unchanged in January

5:58 pm on 14 February 2012

Food prices stayed steady in January.

Statistics New Zealand figures show no overall change last month, following rises 0.2% in November and December.

Higher prices were recorded for fruit and vegetables, restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food, but the prices of meat, poultry, fish, non-alcoholic drinks and grocery food all fell.

On an annual basis, food prices are 1% higher than they were a year ago, although pumpkins rising 107% because of a local shortage.

The annual growth rate has slowed from 2.9% in December and 1.9% in November.

Food prices make up almost 19% of the Consumer Price Index.