According to figures released by Stats NZ, food prices increased 1.5 percent in the 12 months to December 2024, following a 1.3 percent increase in the 12 months to November 2024.
Higher prices for grocery food, restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food drove the annual increase in food prices, up 2.7 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively.
The price increase in grocery food was due to higher prices for butter, standard 2L milk, and olive oil.
“The price for a 500g block of butter has increased by about 50 percent since this time last year, with an average price of NZD 6.66,” said prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden.
“The same-size block of butter had an average price of NZD 4.48 in December 2023.”
The price increase in restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food was due to higher prices for lunch/brunch, hamburgers, and evening restaurant meals.
Despite an overall increase in food prices, decreasing prices in the fruit and vegetables group had the most considerable impact on food prices, falling 8.0 percent in the 12 months to December 2024.
Fruit and vegetable prices were driven by lower prices for kūmara, potatoes, and onions.
“Kūmara prices are around 60 percent lower in December 2024 than they were a year ago. In comparison, kūmara prices rose almost 260 percent in the year ended December 2023.”
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