Despite higher produce prices by 10.4 percent, the downward trend appears to continue for Countdown, with the company’s April data showing an overall decrease in prices of 0.8 percent year-on-year. The data take into account a basket of 100 commonly-purchased items, such as meat, produce and dairy products. An overall decrease of 0.1 percent had also been revealed by Statistics New Zealand in its March Food Price Index.
According to Chris Fisher, general manager of merchandise, Countdown, produce prices were affected by a number of factors, including warmer temperatures earlier in the season and higher imported grape prices as a result of the low Kiwi dollar. To counterbalance this trend, Countdown has focused on lowering the price of groceries and household products.
“While some pricing factors will always be out of our control, we continue to make a positive difference to food affordability in New Zealand and deliver savings through great specials and our Price Lockdown programme,” said Fisher.
FOOD PRICES DROPPING
