Food prices remained steady in April, as a rise in prices for grocery food offset a fall in fruit and vegetables.
Statistics New Zealand says grocery food rose 1% during the month, as people paid more for margarine and bread.
But fruit and vegetable prices fell 3.3%, led by cheaper lettuce and kiwifruit.
The Food Price Index rose 6.1% in the year to April - the largest annual increase since July 2009.
The annual rise was driven by higher prices for grocery food, fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, restaurant and ready to eat food, and non-alcoholic drinks.
