WELLINGTON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Petrol and diesel prices both increased in New Zealand in August compared with the previous month, official figures showed on Friday.
Petrol prices rose 2 percent in August, while diesel prices increased 8.6 percent, Stats NZ said in a statement. The increase marked the first rise in fuel prices in four months amid U.S.-Iran tensions, Radio New Zealand reported.
In the year ending in August 2026, petrol prices grew 17.9 percent and diesel prices rose 45.8 percent, the statistics department said.
International airfares also continued to rise, increasing 4.3 percent in August from July, following a 10.9-percent increase in July, it said.
"The monthly rise in international airfares was driven primarily by higher fares to Europe and Asia," Stats NZ prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said in the statement.
International airfares rose 21.5 percent in the year ending in August, the largest annual increase since April 2023, Growden said.
Food prices increased 0.3 percent in August and rose 1.9 percent in the year ending in August. Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food were the largest contributors to the annual increase in food prices, Stats NZ said. ■