Food prices in April increased by 0.6% compared to March 2024.
Figures released today by Stats NZ show that food was the biggest contributor to the monthly rise.
Stats NZ said this was due to soaring prices for potato chips, chocolate blocks and olive oil.
However, both fruit and vegetables became cheaper, and food items such as kiwifruit, broccoli and mandarin oranges were reduced in price, slightly offsetting the overall increase.
“For the third month in a row, it's cheaper to stock up on vegetables and fruit,” Statistics NZ consumer prices manager James Mitchell said.
Last month, 1News reported that the annual rate of increase in food prices was the lowest since April 2021. However, monthly food prices in March overall fell by 0.5% compared to February 2024.
Food prices increase by 0.8% annually
Food prices rose by 0.8% in the 12 months to April 2024.
The rise followed a 0.7% rise in the 12 months to March 2024. During the same period last year, food prices rose by 12.5%.
The smaller rise compared to last year was due to cheaper fruit and vegetables, which fell 13% in the 12 months to April 2024, while all other broad food groups Rose.
“The decline in fruit and vegetable prices compared to April 2023 reflects prices falling from the highs seen throughout 2023,” Mitchell said.
International ticket prices rose 7.2%
Stats NZ also reported that international air freight rates increased by 7.2% in April compared to March 2024.
Meanwhile, overseas accommodation rates fell by 4.9%.
“A Kiwi traveling abroad in April would have had higher airfares than a Kiwi traveling in March,” Mitchell said.
“On the other hand, accommodation rates have become cheaper.”
International air transportation prices in April 2019 were 47.7% higher than five years ago, and overseas accommodation prices were 30.8% higher during the same period.