Fruit and Vegetable Price Rise, Food Price Index

Fruit and vegetable prices continue to rise, stinging Kiwi families by almost 16 per cent more than a year ago. Statistics New Zealand's latest Food Price Index, released today, shows that food prices are more expensive across the board than a year ago.

For six straight months the price of fruit and vegetables has continued to grow. They rose 8.9 per cent between the winter months of June and July. Restaurant food and ready to eat meals were the least offenders - up 4.2 per cent over the year.

Statistics NZ's "food basket" - a representative food buy updated every three years to reflect what New Zealanders are buying - added four new items this year.

Dried apricots, frozen berries, frozen chicken nuggets, and flat breads such as tortillas are now on the list. Nothing was dropped. Since June 2008, we now buy more fruit and vegetables and soft drinks, but less meat, poultry, and fish.