Food prices have risen at their fastest rate since 1990 during the past year.
The food price index went up by 0.5 per cent in August from July to deliver an increase of 6.3 per cent for the year.
This was the biggest annual increase since June 1990, which followed a hike in the Government's goods and services sales tax in the middle of 1989, Statistics New Zealand said.
Food prices make up 18.2 per cent of the agency's consumer price index.
The latest increase in the food price index was due largely to higher prices for meat, fish and poultry, and fruit and vegetables.
Meat, fish and poultry prices rose 2.2 per cent during the month, making the most significant contribution to the overall index movement.
Beef made up 50 per cent of the increase in the meat subgroup, rising 3.3 per cent month on month - a reflection of the continued strong export prices for beef, Statistics New Zealand said.
Fruit and vegetable prices rose 0.9 per cent in August, driven by higher prices for fresh fruit.
The most significant individual contributions to the overall index rise came from potatoes (up 15.9 per cent) and oranges (up 12.9 per cent).
Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat foods were also more expensive in August - they rose by 0.3 per cent.
Bucking the trend, grocery food, soft drinks and confectionery prices fell by 0.1 per cent, following a rise of 0.7 per cent in July.
In August, 62.1 per cent of all of the items monitored by the food price index, representing 70.8 per cent of the expenditure-weighting of all food types monitored, rose from July to August.
Statistician Kevin Counsell said this suggested there was still some strong upward price pressure to come from food prices in recent months.
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Food prices rise at fastest rate in years
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