Food prices flat

Food prices decreased 0.1 percent in the August 2007 month, Statistics New Zealand said today.

The decrease was mainly due to lower prices for the fruit and vegetables subgroup (down 3.0 percent).

Within the fruit and vegetables subgroup, the main contributors to the 3.0 percent decrease were lower prices for avocados (down 50.0 percent), brassica (down 17.2 percent), courgettes (down 29.2 percent),and oranges (down 16.3 percent).

These decreases were partly offset by higher prices for frozenvegetables (up 6.0 percent) and apples (up 6.4 percent).

The main upward contribution came from higher prices for the meat, poultry and fish subgroup (up1.1 percent) in the August 2007 month.

Within the subgroup, poultry (up 2.3 percent) and beef (up 1.3percent) were the main contributors to the increase.For the year to August 2007, food prices rose 3.4 percent.

Prices were up for all subgroups.

The mostsignificant upward contribution came from higher prices for the meat, poultry and fish subgroup (up 8.4percent).

Less significant upward contributions came from higher prices for the following subgroups:restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 3.7 percent), grocery food (up 2.0 percent), non-alcoholicbeverages (up 3.0 percent), and fruit and vegetables (up 1.1 percent).