WELLINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's annual food prices rose 6.8 percent in February 2022 compared with February 2021, hitting an 11-year high, the statistics department Stats NZ said on Friday.
This was the largest annual increase since July 2011 when prices increased 7.9 percent, Stats NZ said.
Fruit and vegetable prices were the largest contributor to the annual movement, which increased by 17 percent, mainly influenced by tomatoes, broccoli, and iceberg lettuce, food prices lead analyst Angus Crowe said in a statement.
Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices rose 0.3 percent, while meat, poultry, and fish prices rose 0.1 percent, Crowe said. ■