Thursday, 12 August 2021 11:26

Food prices up in July

Written by  Staff Reporters
Food prices rose 1.3% in July, according to data from Statistics NZ. Food prices rose 1.3% in July, according to data from Statistics NZ.

Food prices were up 1.3% in July 2021 compared with June 2021, say Statistics NZ.

They say the rise is mainly influenced by higher prices for fruit and vegetables and grocery foods.

“Fruit and vegetable prices generally rise in winter as lots of summer produce is out of season and becomes more expensive,” says consume prices manager Katrina Dewbery.

The rise in fruit and vegetable prices was mainly influenced by higher prices for tomatoes (up 21%), broccoli (up 39%), and strawberries (up 34%).

The weighted average price of a 350g broccoli head was $4.13 in July, an all-time high, and $0.43 more expensive than the previous high in May 2017.

Fruit and vegetable prices rose 5.1% in July 2021, but only up 0.8% after adjusting for seasonality effects.

“Fruit and vegetables often go in and out of season with large fluctuations in prices, however we can use the seasonally adjusted index to get a better understanding of what the price movement would be without the normal seasonal effects,” Dewbery says.

Milk prices (standard homogenised) rose 3.3% in July to an all-time high weighted average of $3.78 per two litre bottle, following rising global dairy trade prices between December 2020 and March 2021.

“We often see a lag before consumer dairy prices in New Zealand are affected by the global prices,” Dewbery says.

More like this

It's all about economics

OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a 'please explain' from her former employer Fonterra.

Featured

Editorial: Credit where it's due

OPINION: While farmers are busy and diligently doing their best to deal with unwanted gasses, the opponents of farming - namely the Greens and their mates - are busy polluting the atmosphere with tirades of hot air about what farmers supposedly aren't doing.

Farmers Lead Sustainability Push: Woodchip bioreactor cuts nitrate runoff in Manawatu

Claims that farmers are polluters of waterways and aquifers and 'don't care' still ring out from environmental groups and individuals. The phrase 'dirty dairying' continues to surface from time to time. But as reporter Peter Burke points out, quite the opposite is the case. He says, quietly and behind the scenes, farmers are embracing new ideas and technologies to make their farms sustainable, resilient, environmentally friendly and profitable.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Peasants' revolt

OPINION: Media luvvies at Stuff, the Spinoff and the Granny Herald are spending more time than ever navel-gazing about why…

Why so slow?

OPINION: Why does it take Treasury so long to turn around its figures on how the economy is tracking?

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter