Food costs have risen strongly on the back of a seasonal surge in fruit and vegetable prices.
Photo: 123RF
Official numbers from Stats NZ showed overall food prices rose 1.4 percent in June on the month before, driven by a 15 percent rise in vegetables and fruit, the fastest monthly rise in four years.
Consumer prices manager Matthew Stansfield said winter usually pushed up prices of fruit and vegetables.
"However, we are seeing larger rises than usual for this time of the year and for a greater number of vegetables."
Notable rises were for tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli, and capsicums, which peaked at a record $24.16 a kilo.
Meat, groceries, restaurant and takeaway meals were also more expensive.
Food prices rose 2.8 percent in the year ended June, the highest annual rate in six months. Fruit and vegetable prices gained close to 10 percent on a year ago.
