Carrot prices down to seven-year low

“Capsicum and cucumber prices typically see large falls in September, while tomato prices become cheaper as summer approaches,” Mrs Johnson said.

These seasonal falls were partly offset by rising prices for other fruit and vegetables including courgettes, up 76 percent.

Despite the fall in fruit and vegetable prices, overall food prices remained unchanged in September 2019.

Annual food prices increase, led by rising restaurant and ready-to-eat food prices

Food prices increased 2.2 percent in the year ended September 2019, mainly influenced by increasing prices for restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food, up 3.3 percent.

“Rising prices for takeaway foods, like pizza which is up 5.8 percent, contributed to the overall annual food price increase in the year ended September,” Mrs Johnson said.

Meat, poultry, and fish prices (up 5.3 percent) also contributed to the annual increase.

Prices for bacon and ham, lamb, and beef remained at higher levels.

“Rising export prices on the back of strong overseas demand for New Zealand meat has put upward pressure on the prices Kiwi consumers pay in store,” Mrs Johnson said.

“The weighted average price of lamb chops, blade steak, and bacon all reached record highs in September. This follows previous records for bacon in August, lamb chops in July, and blade steak in June and July.”

Grocery food (up 1.6 percent) and non-alcoholic beverages (up 1.9 percent) also contributed to the overall annual increase in food prices. Fruit and vegetable prices were the only group to buck the upward trend over the year, decreasing 1.0 percent.