Monday, 13 September 2021 11:11

Meat pushes food prices to fifth consecutive rise

Written by  Staff Reporters
Meat, poultry and fish prices rose 1.3% in August 2021. Meat, poultry and fish prices rose 1.3% in August 2021.

Food prices rose 0.3% in August 2021 compared with the previous month, mainly influenced by higher prices for meat, poultry, and fish, Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) have announced.

The rises in food prices for August, while modest, mark a fifth consecutive monthly rise.

Meat, poultry and fish prices were up 1.3% in August.

This was mainly influenced by higher prices for roasting pork (up 11%), sausages (up 3.5%), lamb chops (up 5.4%) and porterhouse and sirloin steak (up 2.3%).

This was partially offset by lower prices for chicken, which were down 3.3%.

“Covid-19 restrictions had a minimal effect on price collection in August,” says Stats NZ consumer prices manager Katrina Dewbery.

Fruit and vegetable prices also increased in August, up 0.4%. This was largely due to higher prices for tomatoes (up 16%) and grapes (up 32%).

However, after adjusting for seasonal effects, fruit and vegetable prices fell by 0.2%.

“The weighted average price of both tomatoes and grapes rose sharply to $15.79 and $11.52 per kilogram, respectively,” Dewbery says.

“The prices of tomatoes previously peaked at $13.65 in August 2020, while grape prices peaked at $10.61 in November 2020,” Dewbery says.

These rises were partly offset by falling prices for broccoli (down 26%), strawberries (down 19%), capsicums (down 12%), and avocados (down 21%).

More like this

Eating more fruit and veg 'helps the economy'

A new international study serves as a stark warning for New Zealanders: our health and wellbeing are in our hands, and increasing our intake of fruit and vegetables is a key step to reducing the pressure on our healthcare system.

Less hot air

OPINION: According to Statistics NZ, the country's greenhouse gas emissions fell 2.7% in the March quarter, the largest quarterly decrease since March 2010 "excluding the pandemic years".

Featured

Gongs for best field days site

Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.

Feed help supplements Canterbury farmers meet protein goals

Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.

National

Machinery & Products

Buhler name to go

Shareholders at a special meeting have approved a proposed deal that will see Buhler Industries, the publicly traded Versatile and…

Grabbing bales made quick and easy

Front end loader and implement specialist Quicke has introduced the new Unigrip L+ and XL+ next-generation bale grabs, designed for…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Risky business

OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.

Should've waited

OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter