Food prices up 2.4pc over past 12 months
The Christmas roast will be more expensive this year with food prices up 2.4 per cent in the year to November, according to Statistics New Zealand.
Prices for meat, poultry and fish have risen progressively this year, up 4.7 per cent.
But prices were slightly down compared with October, by 0.1 per cent after seasonal adjustment. Christmas goodies such as soft drinks, boxed chocolates, vegetables and pork roast were all cheaper.
Stats NZ consumer price manager Sarah Johnson said the average price of tomatoes, for example, was down 51 per cent in November from October.
Tomatoes, broccoli and cucumbers were typically cheaper in November, she said.
Strawberry prices also fell 34 per cent in the month.
But kiwifruit prices were 67 per cent higher than in November last year, to a weighted average price of $6.25 per kilogram.
While fluctuations were normal throughout the year, the current price of kiwifruit was unusual at this time, Johnson said.
‘‘We typically see kiwifruit prices begin to rise in July of each year and peak in March.
‘‘However, this November we saw prices similar to previous March peaks,’’ Johnson said.
The kiwifruit industry has largely bounced back from the bacterial disease Psa but kiwifruit growers are facing a tight labour market as workers have been encouraged to shop around for the best employment conditions.
Porterhouse beef was the main driver of the monthly increase in meat prices, up 4.2 per cent in November.
This was partly offset by a drop in the price of sausages, down 4.3 per cent, and lamb chops, down 3.5 per cent.