Food prices were 12.1 percent higher in March 2023 than they were in March 2022, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Grocery food was the largest contributor to this movement.
“Increasing prices for barn or cage-raised eggs, potato chips, and 6-pack yoghurt were the largest drivers within grocery food,” consumer prices manager James Mitchell said.
| Month ended | Percentage change |
| Jan-89 | 4.4 |
| Feb-89 | 5.6 |
| Mar-89 | 4.1 |
| Apr-89 | 4.6 |
| May-89 | 5.9 |
| Jun-89 | 6.3 |
| Jul-89 | 10.4 |
| Aug-89 | 11.8 |
| Sep-89 | 12.4 |
| Oct-89 | 11.7 |
| Nov-89 | 11.3 |
| Dec-89 | 11.2 |
| 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 |
| Feb-23 | 12 |
| Mar-23 | 12.1 |
In March 2023, the annual increase was due to rises across all the broad food categories Stats NZ measures. Compared with March 2022:
- grocery food prices increased by 14 percent
- fruit and vegetables prices increased by 22 percent
- restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices increased by 8.7 percent
- meat, poultry and fish prices increased by 7.8 percent
- non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 8.2 percent.
The second-largest contributor to the annual movement was fruit and vegetables. The increase was driven by tomatoes, potatoes, and avocados.
Monthly change
Monthly food prices rose 0.8 percent in March 2023 compared with February 2023. After adjusting for seasonal effects, they were up 0.5 percent.
| Month ended | Actual |
| 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 |
| Feb-23 | 1.5 |
| Mar-23 | 0.8 |
| Month ended | Seasonally adjusted |
| Mar-20 | 0.3 |
| Apr-20 | 1.1 |
| May-20 | -0.8 |
| Jun-20 | 0.2 |
| Jul-20 | 0.4 |
| Aug-20 | 0.6 |
| Sep-20 | -0.6 |
| Oct-20 | 0.1 |
| Nov-20 | 0.1 |
| Dec-20 | 0.3 |
| Jan-21 | 0 |
| Feb-21 | -0.5 |
| Mar-21 | -0.4 |
| Apr-21 | 1.3 |
| May-21 | 0.4 |
| Jun-21 | 1.1 |
| Jul-21 | 0.3 |
| Aug-21 | 0.2 |
| Sep-21 | 1 |
| Oct-21 | -0.2 |
| Nov-21 | 0.5 |
| Dec-21 | 0.6 |
| Jan-22 | 1.3 |
| Feb-22 | 0.4 |
| Mar-22 | 0.4 |
| Apr-22 | 0.4 |
| May-22 | 0.7 |
| Jun-22 | 0.9 |
| Jul-22 | 1 |
| Aug-22 | 0.9 |
| Sep-22 | 1 |
| Oct-22 | 1.5 |
| Nov-22 | 1.1 |
| Dec-22 | 1.1 |
| Jan-23 | 0.3 |
| Feb-23 | 2.1 |
| Mar-23 | 0.5 |
The 2.3 percent increase in grocery food was the largest contributor to the monthly movement. Within this group, the items having the greatest impact were barn or cage-raised eggs, 6-pack yoghurt, and boxed chocolates.
These price rises were partly offset by a 1.0 percent fall in meat, poultry, and fish.
/Stats NZ Public Release. View in full here.
