Food prices see first monthly rise in three months

According to figures released by Stats NZ today, the largest contributing group to the monthly rise was grocery food.

It was driven by the higher prices for potato crisps, chocolate blocks and olive oil, Stats NZ said.

However, fruit and vegetables were both cheaper which slightly offset the overall increase, with kiwifruit, broccoli and mandarins among the foods to reduce in price.

Stats NZ consumer prices manager James Mitchell said: "stocking up with fruit and vegetables became cheaper for the third consecutive month".

Last month, 1News reported food prices had the lowest yearly increase since April 2021. However, monthly food prices were down overall by 0.5% in March compared to February 2024.

Food prices up by 0.8% annually

Food prices increased 0.8% in the 12 months to April 2024.

The latest increase followed a 0.7% increase in the 12 months to March 2024. At the same time last year food prices increased 12.5%.

The smaller increase compared with last year was due to cheaper fruit and vegetables, down 13% in the 12 months to April 2024, while all other broad food groups went up in price.

“The fall in fruit and vegetable prices, compared with April 2023, reflects prices coming down from highs seen throughout 2023,” Mitchell said.

International airfare prices up 7.2%

Stats NZ also reported prices for international air transport rose 7.2% in April compared with March 2024.

However, prices for overseas accommodation were down 4.9%.

“Kiwis travelling overseas in April would have experienced higher airfares than those who travelled in March,” said Mitchell.

“On the flip side, the prices for their accommodation were cheaper.”

International air transport prices were 47.7% more expensive than five years ago, in April 2019, while prices for overseas accommodation were 30.8% more expensive over the same time.