WELLINGTON, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Food prices in New Zealand increased 1.2 percent in the 12 months to September 2024, following a 0.4 percent increase in the 12 months to August 2024, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Friday.
The annual increase was driven by higher prices for restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food, and grocery food, which were up 3.5 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively, Stats NZ said.
The price increase in restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food was due to higher prices for lunch or brunch, takeaway coffees, and hamburgers, it said.
Higher prices for olive oil, butter, and chocolate biscuits drove the price increase in grocery food, Stats NZ consumer prices manager Nicola Growden said.
New Zealand's annual consumer price inflation was within 1 percent to 3 percent inflation target range and converging on the 2 percent midpoint. ■
