WELLINGTON, April 17 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand fuel prices surged in March, while food costs showed a modest annual rise, Stats NZ reported Friday.
Petrol and diesel prices climbed 18.6 percent and 42.6 percent from February to March, the largest increases for both fuel types since monthly tracking began in July 2011, according to the statistics department.
The rise followed falls for both petrol and diesel in January and February, it said, adding that on an annual basis, petrol prices were up 13.9 percent and diesel up 36.9 percent.
However, domestic airfares fell by 14.4 percent month-on-month and were down 7.3 percent in the 12 months to March 2026, while international fares rose 3.5 percent in March and 9.8 percent annually, statistics showed.
"Travelers typically book and pay for airfares in advance, so price changes reflect fares that were set up to 12 months ago," Stats NZ prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden was quoted as saying.
Food prices increased 3.4 percent in the year to March, easing from a 4.5-percent annual rise in the year to February. Higher meat, poultry and fish prices, up 7.3 percent, led the annual increase, Stats NZ said.
On a monthly basis, food prices dipped 0.6 percent in March compared with February, driven by cheaper fruits and vegetables like kiwifruit, as well as lower grocery items such as chocolate and cheese, it said. ■
