Fresh Vegetables Leads Growth in Food Prices

Food prices recorded an increase of 0.6 percent in December 2005, Statistics New Zealand said today. Prices increased for the fruit and vegetables (up 2.8 percent); meat, fish and poultry (up 1.0 percent); grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery (up 0.3 percent); and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food subgroups (up 0.1 percent).

Fruit and vegetable prices increased 2.8 percent in December 2005, driven by higher prices for fresh vegetables (up 5.6 percent). The most significant individual upward contributions came from higher prices for carrots (up 38.2 percent) and potatoes (up 12.0 percent). The largest individual downward contribution came from lower prices for tomatoes (down 6.6 percent).

Meat, fish and poultry prices increased 1.0 percent in December 2005, driven by higher prices for poultry (up 4.7 percent). The largest downward contribution came from lower prices for beef mince (down 3.4 percent).

Grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery prices increased 0.3 percent in December 2005, with the most significant upward contribution coming from higher prices for potato crisps (up 9.7 percent). The largest downward contribution came from lower prices for chocolate confectionery (down 3.8 percent).

Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices increased 0.1 percent in December 2005. Prices for restaurant meals increased 0.1 percent, while prices for ready-to-eat food decreased 0.1 percent.

Compared with December 2004, food prices were 2.2 percent higher in December 2005. Prices increased for the grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery (up 2.2 percent); meat, fish and poultry (up 5.3 percent); and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 2.3 percent) subgroups. Prices for the fruit and vegetables subgroup decreased 2.3 percent.

Brian Pink
Government Statistician

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There is a companion Hot Off The Press information release published – Food Price Index: December 2005.

Food Price Index - December 2005 (pdf)