Food prices fell 0.5% in August but were 0.3% higher than in August last year.
As well, the monthly decline follows strong 0.5% and 2.1% rises in July and June respectively.
The Government Statistician says the August drop in food prices was the first decline in five months and reflected cheaper fruit, meat, bread and cereal products such as biscuits and breakfast cereals.
Meat, poultry and fish prices fell 1.7%, influenced by lower prices for most types of meat, including beef, down 3.7%, and pork, down 5.8%.
Fruit prices fell 4.4% in the month of August, influenced by seasonally lower prices for avocados, strawberries, and nectarines.
By contrast, vegetable prices rose 2.6%, largely reflecting a 47% in the price of tomatoes.
