WELLINGTON, June 17 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's food prices climbed 4.4 percent in the year to May 2025, up from a 3.7 percent annual rise in the 12 months to April, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Tuesday.
The sharpest increases came from grocery staples and meat products, with grocery food prices jumping 5.2 percent, driven by soaring costs for dairy items, Stats NZ said, adding all five major food groups recorded annual price increases in May.
"The cost of a 500-gram 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 percent annually, with beef steak and mince up 18.6 percent and 13 percent respectively, statistics show.
On a monthly basis, food prices increased 0.5 percent in May, following a 0.8 percent rise in April, Stats NZ said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's rent prices rose 2.8 percent in the year to May, the smallest annual increase since January 2015, Growden said, adding annual rent increases have not fallen below 2.8 percent since 2011. ■
