Higher lettuce prices helped push vegetable prices up a record 31%, Statistics NZ said today.
“Our wet autumn has pushed vegetable prices to their highest level in almost six years in May with the largest annual increase to vegetables on record,” consumer prices manager Matthew Haigh said.
“The increase was more pronounced because warmer-than-usual weather in the 2016 growing season resulted in cheaper-than-usual vegetable prices in May last year.”
Higher prices for lettuce, tomatoes and broccoli pushed up vegetable prices.
The average price for a 500g head of lettuce was $5.28 in May 2017 compared with $2.12 in May 2016.
Grocery food prices rose 1.7% in the year, led by higher prices for dairy products. Prices for fresh milk, cheese, butter, and yoghurt all increased.
Butter prices were at their highest-ever level with a 500g block of butter costing $4.80 in May 2017 compared with $3.73 in May 2016.
Food prices rose 2.4% in May 2017 with all food subgroups rising. After seasonal adjustment, food prices rose 1.6%.
Fruit and vegetable prices rose 8.2% with vegetable prices up 16%. Prices for lettuce, tomatoes and kumara all rose in May.
Fruit prices fell 3.1% with lower prices for mandarins and kiwifruit partly offset by higher prices for avocados.
Meat, poultry and fish prices rose 2.3%, influenced by higher lamb prices, up 16%.
The average price for a kilo of lamb leg roast was $15.14 in May 2017 compared with $12.57 in April 2017.
