Food prices in New Zealand rose 0.2% annually in May 2024, marking the smallest increase since 2018, mainly due to cheaper fruits, vegetables, and meat.

Food prices in New Zealand rose by 0.2% in the 12 months to May 2024, marking the smallest annual increase since September 2018. The decrease was mainly due to cheaper prices for fruits and vegetables (-11.4%) and meat, poultry, and fish (-1.2%). This is the first annual decrease in meat, poultry, and fish prices in over three years, driven by lower prices for lamb chops, legs of lamb, and chicken pieces.