13 Dec 2013

Dairy prices fuel lift in food price index

4:52 am on 13 December 2013

Rising dairy prices helped stoke an increase in the food price index for the year to 30 November.

Prices fell last month by 0.2%, as prices for meat, poultry and fish dropped.

Fruit and vegetable prices also fell, by just over 1%, with lower prices for tomatoes, strawberries, and broccoli.

Prices for softdrinks and other grocery items rose over the month by 1.5%.

Over the year to 30 November, grocery prices rose by 1.8%, with milk prices up by 6.7%, yoghurt up 12%, butter up 23% and cheese up by 5.4%.

The price of chicken also by more than 8%, with beef up by just over 2% and lamb up by 4%. Fruit and vegetable prices fell slightly.