New Zealand February Food Prices Fall 1.0%

(RTTNews) - Food prices in New Zealand dipped 1.0 percent on month in February, Statistics New Zealand said on Thursday, after rising 1.2 percent in January.

Leading prices to the downside were boxed chocolates (down 21 percent), which fall every February thanks to Valentine's Day.

"Boxed chocolates were cheaper in the lead-up to Valentine's Day," prices manager Chris Pike said. "February also saw seasonally cheaper fruit and vegetables and cheaper beef and lamb."

The seasonal fall in fruit and vegetable prices (down 5.9 percent) was influenced by price falls for both vegetables (down 6.5 percent) and fruit (down 5.1 percent). The main downward contributions came from apples and tomatoes, the bureau noted.

Meat, poultry, and fish prices fell 1.9 percent, reflecting lower prices for beef (down 4.6 percent) and lamb (down 9.0 percent). Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (down 0.2 percent) also fell.

Non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 0.7 percent, influenced by less discounting on soft drinks (up 2.3 percent).

Grocery food prices (up 0.1 percent) rose slightly. Snack foods and sauces recorded higher prices, while chocolate prices fell.

On a yearly basis, food prices were up 0.2 percent after gaining 0.9 percent in the previous month.

Prices increased for grocery food (up 1.0 percent), restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 1.6 percent), and non-alcoholic beverages (up 1.7 percent).

For grocery food, prices for milk, cheese, and eggs (up 5.7 percent) made the main upward contribution. Lower prices for bread and cereals (down 2.1 percent), and confectionery, nuts, and snacks (down 1.9 percent) partly countered this increase.

The price increase for non-alcoholic beverages was largely influenced by soft drink prices (up 2.6 percent).

Fruit and vegetable prices shed 5.6 percent, influenced by lower prices for apples, lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and cucumber.