Food prices in November 2008
Food prices rose 0.8 percent in November 2008, following a decrease of 0.3 percent in October 2008 and an increase of 0.6 percent in September 2008.
In November 2008, higher prices were recorded for the following subgroups: grocery food (up 1.0 percent), non-alcoholic beverages (up 1.8 percent), restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 0.6 percent), and meat, poultry and fish (up 0.3 percent). Lower prices were recorded for the fruit and vegetables subgroup (down 0.3 percent).
The most significant individual upward contributions came from higher prices for nectarines (up 57.2 percent), apples (up 17.5 percent), potatoes (up 13.0 percent), and carrots (up 26.3 percent).
The most significant individual downward contributions came from lower prices for tomatoes (down 29.6 percent), lettuce (down 32.4 percent), strawberries (down 36.9 percent), and broccoli (down 24.2 percent).
| Index Points Contribution |
| Subgroup |
September 2008 to
October 2008 |
October 2008 to
November 2008 |
Fruit and vegetables
Meat, poultry and fish
Grocery food
Non-alcoholic beverages
Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food |
10.30
4.70
2.67
-0.49
0.58 |
-0.51
0.71
4.61
2.02
1.49 |
| Food Price Index |
-2.85 |
8.32 |
Note: Index points contributions may not sum to totals due to rounding.
Distribution of item-level movements
The table below outlines the distribution of price movements in October and November 2008. The Food Price Index (FPI) has been partitioned into those national item-level indexes that increased, showed no change, or decreased.
| Distribution of Item-level Index Movements |
| National item-level index movements |
September 2008 to
October 2008 |
October 2008 to
November 2008 |
| Increase in price |
Number of items
Percentage of all items
Percentage of expenditure weight
Index points contribution
Weighted average price increase (percent) |
85
54.1
57.3
21.4
3.2 |
106
67.5
70.3
25.7
3.2 |
| No change in price |
Number of items
Percentage of all items
Percentage of expenditure weight |
4
2.5
3.4 |
2
1.3
2.0 |
| Decrease in price |
Number of items
Percentage of all items
Percentage of expenditure weight
Index points contribution
Weighted average price decrease (percent) |
68
43.3
39.3
-24.3
5.3 |
49
31.2
27.6
-17.3
5.4 |
The distribution of item-level movements shows that:
- the number of items that increased in price rose, while the number of items that decreased in price fell
- the percentage expenditure weight of items that increased in price rose strongly, while the percentage expenditure weight of items that decreased in price fell
- the percentage expenditure weight of items that increased in price is now more than double the percentage expenditure weight of items that decreased in price.
These movements resulted in a 0.8 percent increase in the November 2008 FPI, compared with a 0.3 percent decrease in October 2008.
Annual movements
Food prices increased 10.3 percent in the year to November 2008, following increases of 9.9 percent and 10.8 percent in the years to October and September 2008, respectively.
All five of the food subgroups increased in the year to November 2008. The most significant upward contribution came from higher prices for the grocery food subgroup (up 11.5 percent), followed by fruit and vegetables (up 16.0 percent), meat, poultry and fish (up 9.7 percent), restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food (up 6.5 percent), and non-alcoholic beverages (up 7.6 percent).
Within these subgroups, the most significant upward contributions came from higher prices for ready-to-eat food (up 7.5 percent), bread (up 18.3 percent), cakes and biscuits (up 17.0 percent), cheddar cheese (up 35.2 percent), potatoes (up 43.6 percent), and soft drinks (up 9.9 percent).
| Annual Index Points Contribution |
| Subgroup |
November 2007 to
November 2008 |
Grocery food
Meat, poultry and fish
Fruit and vegetables
Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food
Non-alcoholic beverages |
46.57
21.47
17.65
15.40
7.55 |
| Food Price Index |
108.63 |
Note: Index points contributions may not sum to totals due to rounding.
Grocery food
Prices for the grocery food subgroup increased 1.0 percent in November 2008, following increases of 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent in October 2008 and September 2008, respectively.
The most significant upward contributions came from higher prices for yoghurt (up 6.8 percent) and bread (up 1.7 percent).
The most significant downward contribution came from lower prices for processed cheese (down 10.8 percent).
For the year to November 2008, prices for the grocery food subgroup increased 11.5 percent. The most significant upward contributions came from higher prices for bread (up 18.3 percent), cakes and biscuits (up 17.0 percent), cheddar cheese (up 35.2 percent), fresh milk (up 6.7 percent), and butter (up 39.9 percent).
Fruit and vegetables
Prices for the fruit and vegetables subgroup decreased 0.3 percent in November 2008, following decreases of 6.0 percent and 2.2 percent in October and September 2008, respectively. Vegetable prices decreased 5.4 percent in November 2008, while fruit prices increased 7.9 percent.
The most significant downward contributions came from lower prices for tomatoes (down 29.6 percent), lettuce (down 32.4 percent), strawberries (down 36.9 percent), and broccoli (down 24.2 percent).
The most significant upward contributions came from higher prices for nectarines (up 57.2 percent), apples (up 17.5 percent), potatoes (up 13.0 percent), and carrots (up 26.3 percent).
For the year to November 2008, fruit and vegetable prices increased 16.0 percent. The most significant individual upward contributions came from higher prices for potatoes (up 43.6 percent), apples (up 43.7 percent), and carrots (up 57.9 percent).
Other subgroups
In November 2008, higher prices were recorded for the non-alcoholic beverages subgroup (up 1.8 percent), the restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food subgroup (up 0.6 percent), and the meat, poultry and fish subgroup (up 0.3 percent).
Within these subgroups, the most significant upward contributions came from higher prices for ready-to-eat food (up 0.6 percent), soft drinks (up 1.4 percent), bacon (up 3.2 percent), and frozen chicken (up 6.0 percent).
The most significant downward contributions came from lower prices for lamb chops (down 4.8 percent), sausages (down 2.1 percent), and minced beef (down 1.4).
For the year to November 2008, prices for the meat, poultry and fish subgroup increased 9.7 percent, the restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food subgroup increased 6.5 percent, and the non-alcoholic beverages subgroup increased 7.6 percent.
For technical information contact:
Cindy Qin or Daniel Griffiths
Wellington 04 931 4600
Email: info@stats.govt.nz
Next release ...
Food Price Index: December 2008 will be released on 20 January 2009.