Food prices were 10.3 percent higher in January 2023 than they were in January 2022, with grocery food the largest contributor to this movement, Stats NZ said today.
| Month ended | Food price index |
| Jan-90 | 11.8 |
| Feb-90 | 9.9 |
| Mar-90 | 11 |
| Apr-90 | 11.4 |
| May-90 | 10.7 |
| Jun-90 | 10 |
| Jul-90 | 6 |
| Aug-90 | 4.9 |
| Sep-90 | 4.6 |
| Oct-90 | 3.3 |
| Nov-90 | 3.2 |
| Dec-90 | 3.3 |
| Jan-91 | 3.9 |
| Feb-91 | 3.5 |
| Mar-91 | 2.7 |
| Apr-91 | 1.3 |
| May-91 | 1.2 |
| Jun-91 | 0.5 |
| Jul-91 | 0.7 |
| Aug-91 | 0.4 |
| Sep-91 | -0.6 |
| Oct-91 | -1 |
| Nov-91 | -0.7 |
| Dec-91 | -0.8 |
| Jan-92 | -1.3 |
| Feb-92 | -0.5 |
| Mar-92 | -0.9 |
| Apr-92 | -1 |
| May-92 | -0.8 |
| Jun-92 | -0.6 |
| Jul-92 | -0.3 |
| Aug-92 | 0.4 |
| Sep-92 | 1 |
| Oct-92 | 1.9 |
| Nov-92 | 1.5 |
| Dec-92 | 1.8 |
| Jan-93 | 2.9 |
| Feb-93 | 3.1 |
| Mar-93 | 2.1 |
| Apr-93 | 2.3 |
| May-93 | 1.3 |
| Jun-93 | 0.7 |
| Jul-93 | 1 |
| Aug-93 | 0.6 |
| Sep-93 | 0 |
| Oct-93 | 0.1 |
| Nov-93 | 0.1 |
| Dec-93 | -0.3 |
| Jan-94 | -0.9 |
| Feb-94 | -0.3 |
| Mar-94 | 0.2 |
| Apr-94 | -0.1 |
| May-94 | -0.2 |
| Jun-94 | 0.4 |
| Jul-94 | -0.1 |
| Aug-94 | -0.3 |
| Sep-94 | -0.5 |
| Oct-94 | 0.3 |
| Nov-94 | 0.3 |
| Dec-94 | 1.8 |
| Jan-95 | 1.3 |
| Feb-95 | 0.4 |
| Mar-95 | 0.9 |
| Apr-95 | 1.9 |
| May-95 | 3.5 |
| Jun-95 | 2.2 |
| Jul-95 | 0.8 |
| Aug-95 | 0.7 |
| Sep-95 | 1 |
| Oct-95 | 0.4 |
| Nov-95 | 1.8 |
| Dec-95 | 0.6 |
| Jan-96 | 0.3 |
| Feb-96 | -0.1 |
| Mar-96 | 0.5 |
| Apr-96 | 0.5 |
| May-96 | 0 |
| Jun-96 | 1.1 |
| Jul-96 | 2.2 |
| Aug-96 | 2.4 |
| Sep-96 | 3.1 |
| Oct-96 | 3.2 |
| Nov-96 | 2.1 |
| Dec-96 | 1.7 |
| Jan-97 | 2.4 |
| Feb-97 | 2.7 |
| Mar-97 | 3.6 |
| Apr-97 | 3.4 |
| May-97 | 1.7 |
| Jun-97 | 2 |
| Jul-97 | 2.7 |
| Aug-97 | 2 |
| Sep-97 | 1.3 |
| Oct-97 | 1 |
| Nov-97 | 0.9 |
| Dec-97 | 1.8 |
| Jan-98 | 2.1 |
| Feb-98 | 2.7 |
| Mar-98 | 2.2 |
| Apr-98 | 2.7 |
| May-98 | 2.6 |
| Jun-98 | 2.8 |
| Jul-98 | 2.8 |
| Aug-98 | 4.2 |
| Sep-98 | 4.2 |
| Oct-98 | 4.4 |
| Nov-98 | 4.3 |
| Dec-98 | 3.6 |
| Jan-99 | 3.6 |
| Feb-99 | 3.9 |
| Mar-99 | 2.4 |
| Apr-99 | 1.7 |
| May-99 | 2.4 |
| Jun-99 | 1.4 |
| Jul-99 | 1.1 |
| Aug-99 | -0.6 |
| Sep-99 | -0.3 |
| Oct-99 | -1.2 |
| Nov-99 | -0.3 |
| Dec-99 | -0.5 |
| Jan-00 | 1.1 |
| Feb-00 | -1.1 |
| Mar-00 | -0.2 |
| Apr-00 | -0.7 |
| May-00 | -0.2 |
| Jun-00 | 1.7 |
| Jul-00 | 1.4 |
| Aug-00 | 2 |
| Sep-00 | 2 |
| Oct-00 | 2.9 |
| Nov-00 | 3.5 |
| Dec-00 | 4.8 |
| Jan-01 | 4 |
| Feb-01 | 5.7 |
| Mar-01 | 5.1 |
| Apr-01 | 6 |
| May-01 | 6.2 |
| Jun-01 | 5.7 |
| Jul-01 | 5.8 |
| Aug-01 | 6.3 |
| Sep-01 | 7.8 |
| Oct-01 | 7.7 |
| Nov-01 | 6.7 |
| Dec-01 | 5.8 |
| Jan-02 | 5.6 |
| Feb-02 | 4.5 |
| Mar-02 | 5.5 |
| Apr-02 | 5.2 |
| May-02 | 4 |
| Jun-02 | 3 |
| Jul-02 | 3.3 |
| Aug-02 | 3 |
| Sep-02 | 1.4 |
| Oct-02 | 1.7 |
| Nov-02 | 1.2 |
| Dec-02 | 0.6 |
| Jan-03 | 0 |
| Feb-03 | 0.6 |
| Mar-03 | -0.3 |
| Apr-03 | -0.7 |
| May-03 | 0.8 |
| Jun-03 | 0.6 |
| Jul-03 | 0.7 |
| Aug-03 | 0.2 |
| Sep-03 | 0 |
| Oct-03 | -0.3 |
| Nov-03 | 0.4 |
| Dec-03 | 0.6 |
| Jan-04 | -0.2 |
| Feb-04 | 0.1 |
| Mar-04 | 1.5 |
| Apr-04 | 1.7 |
| May-04 | 0.5 |
| Jun-04 | 0.9 |
| Jul-04 | -0.1 |
| Aug-04 | 0.4 |
| Sep-04 | 1.3 |
| Oct-04 | 1.1 |
| Nov-04 | 0.8 |
| Dec-04 | 1.2 |
| Jan-05 | 1.8 |
| Feb-05 | 1.7 |
| Mar-05 | 1.1 |
| Apr-05 | 0.4 |
| May-05 | 1.4 |
| Jun-05 | 1.5 |
| Jul-05 | 2.1 |
| Aug-05 | 2 |
| Sep-05 | 0.9 |
| Oct-05 | 1.1 |
| Nov-05 | 1.5 |
| Dec-05 | 2.2 |
| Jan-06 | 2.3 |
| Feb-06 | 1.1 |
| Mar-06 | 1.8 |
| Apr-06 | 1.9 |
| May-06 | 1.8 |
| Jun-06 | 2.9 |
| Jul-06 | 3.4 |
| Aug-06 | 3.4 |
| Sep-06 | 3.9 |
| Oct-06 | 4 |
| Nov-06 | 3.8 |
| Dec-06 | 2.7 |
| Jan-07 | 3.4 |
| Feb-07 | 4.5 |
| Mar-07 | 3.3 |
| Apr-07 | 4.3 |
| May-07 | 4.1 |
| Jun-07 | 3 |
| Jul-07 | 3.4 |
| Aug-07 | 3.4 |
| Sep-07 | 3.4 |
| Oct-07 | 3.6 |
| Nov-07 | 3.9 |
| Dec-07 | 5.4 |
| Jan-08 | 4.4 |
| Feb-08 | 5.2 |
| Mar-08 | 6 |
| Apr-08 | 6 |
| May-08 | 6.8 |
| Jun-08 | 8.2 |
| Jul-08 | 7.6 |
| Aug-08 | 10.6 |
| Sep-08 | 10.8 |
| Oct-08 | 9.9 |
| Nov-08 | 10.3 |
| Dec-08 | 9.1 |
| Jan-09 | 9.5 |
| Feb-09 | 8.8 |
| Mar-09 | 8.6 |
| Apr-09 | 7.6 |
| May-09 | 6.8 |
| Jun-09 | 8.4 |
| Jul-09 | 8.4 |
| Aug-09 | 4.6 |
| Sep-09 | 3.3 |
| Oct-09 | 2 |
| Nov-09 | 0.9 |
| Dec-09 | 0.9 |
| Jan-10 | 2.2 |
| Feb-10 | 0.7 |
| Mar-10 | 0.3 |
| Apr-10 | 0.4 |
| May-10 | -0.5 |
| Jun-10 | -2 |
| Jul-10 | -1 |
| Aug-10 | -0.2 |
| Sep-10 | 1.3 |
| Oct-10 | 5.1 |
| Nov-10 | 4.8 |
| Dec-10 | 4.2 |
| Jan-11 | 3.8 |
| Feb-11 | 5.3 |
| Mar-11 | 5.5 |
| Apr-11 | 6.1 |
| May-11 | 7.4 |
| Jun-11 | 7.5 |
| Jul-11 | 7.9 |
| Aug-11 | 6.6 |
| Sep-11 | 4.7 |
| Oct-11 | 1.1 |
| Nov-11 | 1.9 |
| Dec-11 | 2.9 |
| Jan-12 | 1 |
| Feb-12 | 1.5 |
| Mar-12 | 0.2 |
| Apr-12 | 0 |
| May-12 | -0.2 |
| Jun-12 | -0.2 |
| Jul-12 | -1.8 |
| Aug-12 | -0.5 |
| Sep-12 | -0.3 |
| Oct-12 | 0.3 |
| Nov-12 | -0.6 |
| Dec-12 | -1 |
| Jan-13 | 0.8 |
| Feb-13 | -0.1 |
| Mar-13 | -0.4 |
| Apr-13 | -0.1 |
| May-13 | -0.1 |
| Jun-13 | 0.6 |
| Jul-13 | 0.9 |
| Aug-13 | 0.3 |
| Sep-13 | 1.2 |
| Oct-13 | 0.8 |
| Nov-13 | 1.4 |
| Dec-13 | 1.5 |
| Jan-14 | 0.9 |
| Feb-14 | 0.2 |
| Mar-14 | 1.2 |
| Apr-14 | 1.5 |
| May-14 | 1.8 |
| Jun-14 | 1.2 |
| Jul-14 | -0.1 |
| Aug-14 | 0.7 |
| Sep-14 | -0.1 |
| Oct-14 | 0.9 |
| Nov-14 | 0.6 |
| Dec-14 | 1 |
| Jan-15 | 1.2 |
| Feb-15 | 1.5 |
| Mar-15 | 1.9 |
| Apr-15 | 1 |
| May-15 | 0.8 |
| Jun-15 | -0.1 |
| Jul-15 | 1.2 |
| Aug-15 | 0.4 |
| Sep-15 | 0.7 |
| Oct-15 | -0.5 |
| Nov-15 | -0.2 |
| Dec-15 | -1.3 |
| Jan-16 | -0.6 |
| Feb-16 | -0.5 |
| Mar-16 | -0.1 |
| Apr-16 | 0.5 |
| May-16 | -0.3 |
| Jun-16 | -0.5 |
| Jul-16 | -1.3 |
| Aug-16 | 0.5 |
| Sep-16 | 0.1 |
| Oct-16 | 0.6 |
| Nov-16 | 0.6 |
| Dec-16 | 0.6 |
| Jan-17 | 1.4 |
| Feb-17 | 2.2 |
| Mar-17 | 1.3 |
| Apr-17 | 0.2 |
| May-17 | 3.1 |
| Jun-17 | 3 |
| Jul-17 | 3 |
| Aug-17 | 2.3 |
| Sep-17 | 3 |
| Oct-17 | 2.7 |
| Nov-17 | 2.3 |
| Dec-17 | 2.3 |
| Jan-18 | 0.8 |
| Feb-18 | 0.1 |
| Mar-18 | 1.4 |
| Apr-18 | 2.3 |
| May-18 | -0.1 |
| Jun-18 | 0.2 |
| Jul-18 | 1.1 |
| Aug-18 | -0.1 |
| Sep-18 | 0.1 |
| Oct-18 | 0.6 |
| Nov-18 | 0.4 |
| Dec-18 | 1 |
| Jan-19 | 0.8 |
| Feb-19 | 1.7 |
| Mar-19 | 1.2 |
| Apr-19 | 1 |
| May-19 | 1.7 |
| Jun-19 | 0.5 |
| Jul-19 | 0.9 |
| Aug-19 | 2.1 |
| Sep-19 | 2.2 |
| Oct-19 | 2.5 |
| Nov-19 | 2.4 |
| Dec-19 | 2.4 |
| Jan-20 | 3.5 |
| Feb-20 | 3.1 |
| Mar-20 | 3.3 |
| Apr-20 | 4.4 |
| May-20 | 2.9 |
| Jun-20 | 4.1 |
| Jul-20 | 4.2 |
| Aug-20 | 4.2 |
| Sep-20 | 3.1 |
| Oct-20 | 2.7 |
| Nov-20 | 2.6 |
| Dec-20 | 2.9 |
| Jan-21 | 2.1 |
| Feb-21 | 1.2 |
| Mar-21 | 0.5 |
| Apr-21 | 0.7 |
| May-21 | 1.8 |
| Jun-21 | 2.8 |
| Jul-21 | 2.8 |
| Aug-21 | 2.4 |
| Sep-21 | 4 |
| Oct-21 | 3.7 |
| Nov-21 | 4 |
| Dec-21 | 4.5 |
| Jan-22 | 5.9 |
| Feb-22 | 6.8 |
| Mar-22 | 7.6 |
| Apr-22 | 6.4 |
| May-22 | 6.8 |
| Jun-22 | 6.6 |
| Jul-22 | 7.4 |
| Aug-22 | 8.3 |
| Sep-22 | 8.3 |
| Oct-22 | 10.1 |
| Nov-22 | 10.7 |
| Dec-22 | 11.3 |
| Jan-23 | 10.3 |
In January 2023, the annual increase was due to rises across all the broad food categories we measure. Compared with January 2022:
- grocery food prices increased by 11 percent
- restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food increased by 8.3 percent
- fruit and vegetable prices increased by 16 percent
- meat, poultry, and fish prices increased by 9.2 percent
- non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 7.1 percent.
“Increasing prices for cheddar cheese, barn or cage-raised eggs, and potato chips were the largest drivers within grocery food,” consumer prices manager James Mitchell said.
The second-largest contributor to the annual movement was restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food.
Monthly change
Monthly food prices rose 1.7 percent in January 2023 compared with December 2022. After adjusting for seasonal effects, they were up 0.3 percent.
| “Month ended” | “Food price index” |
| “Jan-20” | 2.1 |
| “Feb-20” | 0 |
| “Mar-20” | 0.7 |
| “Apr-20” | 1 |
| “May-20” | -0.8 |
| “Jun-20” | 0.5 |
| “Jul-20” | 1.2 |
| “Aug-20” | 0.7 |
| “Sep-20” | -1 |
| “Oct-20” | -0.7 |
| “Nov-20” | -0.9 |
| “Dec-20” | 0.1 |
| “Jan-21” | 1.3 |
| “Feb-21” | -0.9 |
| “Mar-21” | 0 |
| “Apr-21” | 1.1 |
| “May-21” | 0.4 |
| “Jun-21” | 1.4 |
| “Jul-21” | 1.3 |
| “Aug-21” | 0.3 |
| “Sep-21” | 0.5 |
| “Oct-21” | -0.9 |
| “Nov-21” | -0.6 |
| “Dec-21” | 0.6 |
| “Jan-22” | 2.7 |
| “Feb-22” | -0.1 |
| “Mar-22” | 0.7 |
| “Apr-22” | 0.1 |
| “May-22” | 0.7 |
| “Jun-22” | 1.2 |
| “Jul-22” | 2.1 |
| “Aug-22” | 1.1 |
| “Sep-22” | 0.4 |
| “Oct-22” | 0.8 |
| “Nov-22” | 0 |
| “Dec-22” | 1.1 |
| “Jan-23” | 1.7 |
| Month ended | Seasonally adjusted monthly percent change |
| Jan-20 | 0.6 |
| Feb-20 | 0.5 |
| Mar-20 | 0.2 |
| Apr-20 | 1.1 |
| May-20 | -0.8 |
| Jun-20 | 0.2 |
| Jul-20 | 0.4 |
| Aug-20 | 0.5 |
| Sep-20 | -0.6 |
| Oct-20 | 0.2 |
| Nov-20 | 0.1 |
| Dec-20 | 0.3 |
| Jan-21 | -0.1 |
| Feb-21 | -0.4 |
| Mar-21 | -0.4 |
| Apr-21 | 1.4 |
| May-21 | 0.4 |
| Jun-21 | 1.1 |
| Jul-21 | 0.3 |
| Aug-21 | 0.1 |
| Sep-21 | 1 |
| Oct-21 | -0.1 |
| Nov-21 | 0.5 |
| Dec-21 | 0.6 |
| Jan-22 | 1.2 |
| Feb-22 | 0.6 |
| Mar-22 | 0.3 |
| Apr-22 | 0.3 |
| May-22 | 0.7 |
| Jun-22 | 0.9 |
| Jul-22 | 1.1 |
| Aug-22 | 0.9 |
| Sep-22 | 1 |
| Oct-22 | 1.6 |
| Nov-22 | 1 |
| Dec-22 | 1.1 |
| Jan-23 | 0.3 |
Grocery food was the largest contributor to the monthly movement. Within this group, the items having the greatest impact were boxed chocolates, potato chips, and barn or cage-raised eggs.
/Stats NZ Public Release. View in full here.
