WELLINGTON, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's food prices rose 4.4 percent in the year to November 2025, following a 4.7 percent increase in the 12 months to October 2025, Stats NZ reported Tuesday.
Higher grocery prices, up 4.6 percent, drove the annual rise, followed by meat, poultry, and fish, which climbed 7.7 percent annually, said the statistics department.
The average price of a two-liter bottle of milk rose 15.8 percent annually, while sirloin beef steak surged 26.7 percent, and white loaf bread jumped 53.2 percent annually, it said.
"Bread is a staple food for many households. It now costs 74 cents more for a loaf of white bread than this time last year," said Stats NZ spokesperson Nicola Growden.
On a monthly basis, food prices fell 0.4 percent in November, led by a 4.5 percent drop in fruit and vegetables as seasonal produce such as tomatoes and strawberries became cheaper, statistics showed. ■