Food Price Index

Food prices increased 0.8 percent from June 2006 to July 2006.   Fruit and vegetable prices rose 4.1 percent, driven by higher prices for vegetables.   Grocery food prices rose 0.3 percent.   Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices rose 0.5 percent.   Non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 0.4 percent.   Meat, poultry and fish prices recorded no overall change.   Food prices rose 3.4 percent for the year to July 2006.   The July 2006 Food Price Index basket has been reselected and reweighted. The index is now published on a base of the June 2006 month (=1000).