WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s food prices climbed 4.4 per cent in the year to May 2025, up from a 3.7 per cent annual rise in the 12 months to April, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Tuesday, as reported by Xinhua.
The sharpest increases came from grocery staples and meat products, with grocery food prices jumping 5.2 per cent, driven by soaring costs for dairy items, Stats NZ said, adding that all five major food groups recorded annual price increases in May.
“The cost of a 500-gramme block of butter is nearly twice as expensive as the lower prices seen in early 2024,” said Stats NZ spokesperson Nicola Growden.
Meat, poultry, and fish prices rose 5.4 per cent annually, with beef steak and minced meat up 18.6 per cent and 13 per cent respectively, statistics show.
On a monthly basis, food prices increased 0.5 per cent in May, following a 0.8 per cent rise in April, Stats NZ said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s rent prices rose 2.8 per cent in the year to May, the smallest annual increase since January 2015, Growden said.
She added that annual rent increases have not fallen below 2.8 per cent since 2011. – BERNAMA-XINHUA
