Food prices in New Zealand fell 0.5 percent on month in August, Statistics New Zealand said on Friday.
That was well shy of forecasts for an increase of 0.2 percent following the 0.5 percent increase in July and the 2.1 percent jump in June.
"In August, food prices fell for the first time in five months, reflecting cheaper fruit, meat, bread, and cereal products such as biscuits and breakfast cereals," prices manager Chris Pike said.
Grocery prices led the decline, fueled by a 2.2 percent drop in breads and cereals.
Meat, poultry and fish prices fell 1.7 percent, influenced by lower prices for most types of meat, including beef (down 3.7 percent) and pork (down 5.8 percent).
Fruit prices dropped 4.4 percent in August, influenced by seasonally lower prices for avocados, strawberries, and nectarines. The fall in fruit prices was mostly offset by rising vegetable prices (up 2.6 percent), influenced by higher prices for tomatoes (up 47 percent to NZ$12.43 per kilo).
Non-alcoholic beverage prices climbed 1.2 percent, influenced by packaged coffee (up 6.1 percent).
On a yearly basis, food prices added 0.3 percent - slowing from the 0.9 percent growth in July and the 0.6 percent increase in June.
Fruit and vegetable prices gained 1.9 percent, influenced by lettuce (up 29 percent) and potatoes (up 12 percent). These increases were partly offset by lower prices for strawberries (down 12 percent).
Prices also increased for non-alcoholic beverages (up 1.2 percent), and restaurant meals (up 1.8 percent).
The main downward contribution for the year came from grocery food prices (down 0.5 percent).
These were influenced by lower prices for confectionery, nuts, and snacks (down 1.5 percent) as well as cereal products such as cakes and biscuits (down 3.1 percent).
Lower prices were also recorded for meat, poultry, and fish (down 0.5 percent), influenced by lamb (down 6.5 percent) and chicken (down 1.0 percent).
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