14 Feb 2013

Food prices up 1.9%

1:51 pm on 14 February 2013

Food prices have risen at the highest rate in more than a year.

Statistics New Zealand figures show prices increased 1.9% in January compared to December and are 0.8% higher than January 2012.

Fruit and vegetables rose 3.5% due to high prices for apples, mandarins and lettuces.

Prices of meat, poultry and fish prices also increased.

The monthly rise was the highest since a 2% rise in July 2011.

In the year to January, fruit and vegetables rose 5.9%, with kumara prices almost doubling because poor weather conditions resulted in smaller crops.

Meat products rose about 1.9% year-on-year, mostly due to chicken prices.