New Zealand December Food Prices Rise Seasonally Adjusted 0.5%

Food prices in New Zealand advanced a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent on month in December, Statistics New Zealand said on Tuesday.

Unadjusted, food prices were down 0.2 percent last month.

In December, fruit and vegetable prices fell 1.1 percent (down 0.6 percent after seasonal adjustment) on month; meat, poultry, and fish prices rose 0.2 percent; grocery food prices rose 0.1 percent (up 0.5 percent after seasonal adjustment); non-alcoholic beverage prices fell 2.6 percent; and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices rose 0.2 percent.

On a yearly basis, food prices were up 1.0 percent in December.

In December, fruit and vegetable prices decreased 6.1 percent on year; meat, poultry, and fish prices increased 3.8 percent; grocery food prices increased 1.4 percent; non-alcoholic beverage prices decreased 0.2 percent; and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices increased 2.9 percent.

"Overall, getting your five-plus a day servings of fruit and vegetables was cheaper in 2018," consumer prices manager Geraldine Duoba said. "Bad weather in 2017 reduced the supply of many vegetables, pushing up their prices. Growing conditions were mostly more favorable during 2018, boosting supply and lowering prices."

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