WELLINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand food prices were 10.1 percent higher in October year on year, marking a 14-year high, the country's statistics department Stats NZ said on Friday.
"This was the highest annual increase since November 2008," said consumer prices senior manager Nicola Growden.
In October 2022, the annual increase was due to rises across all the broad food categories measured. Compared with October 2021, grocery food prices increased by 9.7 percent, fruit and vegetable prices increased by 17 percent, and meat, poultry, and fish prices increased by 10 percent, Growden said.
Monthly food prices were 0.8 percent higher in October compared with September, he said.
"Previous patterns of seasonal price movement for fruit and vegetables suggest it's more typical to see a larger fall in fruit and vegetables for the October month," Growden noted. ■