Food prices in New Zealand were up 2.4 percent on month in May, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday - following the 0.8 percent gain in April.
Fruit and vegetable prices rose 8.2 percent on month, while meat, poultry, and fish prices rose 2.3 percent.
Grocery food prices rose 1.9 percent, while non-alcoholic beverage prices added 1.0 percent and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices picked up 0.3 percent.
"Our wet autumn has pushed vegetable prices to their highest level in almost six years in May, with the largest annual increase to vegetables on record," consumer prices manager Matthew Haigh said. "The increase was more pronounced because warmer-than-usual weather in the 2016 growing season resulted in cheaper-than-usual vegetable prices in May last year."
Seasonally adjusted, food prices gained 1.6 percent on month.
On a yearly basis, prices were up 3.1 percent.
Fruit and vegetable prices increased 14.0 percent on year, while meat, poultry, and fish prices increased 0.6 percent.
Grocery food prices jumped 1.7 percent, while non-alcoholic beverage prices shed 1.0 percent and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices climbed 2.1 percent.
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