Food Prices in New Zealand See 12.1% Annual Rise, with Fruit and Vegetables Up by Nearly 20%

Food prices in New Zealand remained high in May, with a 12.1% increase compared to May 2022, according to Stats NZ. The cost of fruit and vegetables has risen by nearly 20% in the past year. The price hikes were observed across all food categories, with fresh eggs, potato chips, and lollies being the largest contributors in the grocery food sector. Fruit and vegetable prices saw the second-largest increase, driven by avocados, kūmara, potatoes, and tomatoes. Restaurant meals, ready-to-eat food, meat, poultry, and fish prices also saw notable annual increases. However, on a monthly basis, prices only rose by 0.3% between April and May. Non-alcoholic beverages experienced a 4.5% increase in May, while decreasing fruit and vegetable prices partially offset this rise. This follows previous months’ reports of significant annual increases in food prices.