Food prices in New Zealand were up a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent on month in May, Statistics New Zealand said on Friday
That was in line with expectations following the 0.2 percent increase in April and the 1.3 percent decline in March.
In May, fruit and vegetable prices rose 2.1 percent. Vegetable prices were influenced by lettuce (up 38 percent) and cucumber (up 110 percent). Cucumber prices usually rise in May, and previously rose 70 percent and 75 percent in May 2012 and 2011, respectively.
"While veggie prices rose 6 percent this month, fruit prices fell 2.6 percent, reflecting seasonally cheaper kiwifruit and mandarins," prices manager Chris Pike said.
Meat, poultry, and fish prices rose 0.5 percent in the month, influenced by higher prices for sausages (up 9.9 percent, due to less discounting).
Grocery food prices rose slightly (up 0.1 percent), influenced by higher prices for butter (up 27 percent) and cheese (up 4.7 percent). The average price of the cheapest butter option when prices were collected in May was $3.77 per 500 grams, compared with $2.97 in April.
The price of chocolate (up 2.8 percent) was influenced by less discounting for chocolate bars and blocks (up 6.5 percent).
The price of packaged coffee (down 4.6 percent) was at its lowest level since November 2010.
On a yearly basis, food prices dipped 0.1 percent - also in line with forecasts and unchanged from the previous month's reading.
Grocery food prices (down 1.2 percent) made the main downward contribution for the year. The prices for snack foods (down 4.3 percent), fresh milk (down 1.8 percent), and bread (down 2.0 percent) decreased in the year to May 2013.
Non-alcoholic beverage prices (down 0.5 percent) also decreased, influenced by packaged coffee (down 6.7 percent).
These decreases were offset by price increases for restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 0.7 percent); meat, poultry, and fish (up 0.9 percent); and fruit and vegetables (up 0.9 percent). Avocados (up 64 percent), potatoes (up 8.6 percent), and cucumber (up 24 percent) all had upward influences on food prices.
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