NZ: Spring brings lower vegetable prices
Fruit and vegetable prices fell 3.0 percent. Lower prices for tomatoes, strawberries, and courgettes were partly offset by higher prices for potatoes, apples, nectarines, and carrots. Tomato prices fell to $3.47 per kilo, their lowest November price for 12 years.
Grocery food prices fell 0.3 percent, with lower prices for confectionery, nuts, and snacks (down 1.4 percent), bread (down 3.3 percent), and cheese (down 4.2 percent). These were partly offset by higher prices for sauces and canned meals.
Annual change in prices
In the year to November 2014, food prices increased 0.6 percent, following a 0.9 percent increase in the year to October 2014.
Fruit and vegetable prices increased 0.7 percent. Higher prices for lettuce, potatoes, apples, and carrots were partly offset by lower prices for tomatoes, kumara, and avocados.
Grocery food prices decreased 0.8 percent, with lower bread and yoghurt prices being the main influence. Supermarkets discounting some own-brand bread contributed to lower bread prices in recent months. Fresh milk prices were up 7.6 percent on a year ago.
The food price index (FPI) measures the rate of price change of food and food services purchased by households. Statistics NZ visits shops across New Zealand to collect prices for the FPI and check package sizes.
Source: scoop.co.nz