Food prices in New Zealand fell an unadjusted 0.5 percent on month in August, Statistics New Zealand said on Thursday - while seasonally adjusted food prices fell 0.8 percent.
Individually, fruit and vegetable prices fell 2.1 percent (down 4.6 percent after seasonal adjustment), while meat, poultry, and fish prices fell 1.4 percent and grocery food prices rose 0.5 percent (up 0.9 after seasonal adjustment).
Also, non-alcoholic beverage prices fell 1.9 percent and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices rose 0.1 percent.
On a yearly basis, food prices eased 0.1 percent in August.
Individually, fruit and vegetable prices decreased 6.5 percent, while meat, poultry, and fish prices decreased 0.9 percent and grocery food prices increased 0.1 percent.
Also, non-alcoholic beverage prices increased 3.2 percent and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices increased 2.9 percent.
Broccoli prices fell 27 percent in August and 32 percent for the year, contributing strongly to the overall fall of monthly and annual food prices.
"Broccoli is grown all year round, but is typically cheapest in December, at about NZ$1.50 a head," prices manager Geraldine Duoba said. "The cool weather this winter provided ideal growing conditions for broccoli."
The average price of a 350g head of broccoli was NZ$2.09 in August 2018, down 77 cents from July. It is also about one-third cheaper than a year ago when prices reached NZ$3.09 per head in August 2017.
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