New figures may suggest the price of food has gone down, however some locals say the drop in prices is too small to notice.
Statistics New Zealand released figures yesterday that said in the year to June 2015, food prices decreased 0.1 per cent.
This drop followed eight consecutive food price increases since the year to October 2014.
Consumers price index delivery manager Matt Haigh gave the example of milk, saying the average price for 2l of blue-top was $3.36 in June, down 9.4 per cent from its peak in November 2014.
"The price of fresh milk is the lowest it has been since August 2013, when 2l of blue-top cost $3.17."
However, Rotorua mother-of-three Amelia Bosworth said the decrease was too small for shoppers to see any real change.
"It is still incredibly expensive to feed an average family of five, especially when you are trying to steer clear of junk food.
"At the top of the most-expensive list is meat closely followed by dairy products.
"Margarine isn't too bad but cheese is so expensive that we haven't been able to buy it in a few years."
Ms Bosworth said groceries were particularly expensive if you couldn't buy in bulk.
Pearl Pavett from the Rotorua Budget Advisory service said the key to saving money on groceries was planning meals ahead of time and making a shopping list.
"Also by planning your meals ahead of time, you can cook a large amount of mince and divide it between two or three meals, rather than buying three small packets of mince."
Readers on the Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page agreed meat was the item that pushed grocery bills up, closely followed by dairy and fruit and vegetables.
One reader said they hadn't noticed a decrease in prices and some weeks "even mince is out of our price range".
"Food in general is expensive, but it is cheaper to buy junk food than it is to buy good wholesome food.
"... You can buy fizzy [drink] cheaper than milk and the price of meat and vegetables is horrific," another said.
Changes in food prices year to June 2015
Grocery food prices: 2.1 per cent decrease
Meat, poultry and fish: 1.9 per cent decrease
Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food: 1.9 per cent increase
Non-alcoholic beverages: 4.1 per cent increase
Fruit: 5.3 per cent increase
- Statistics New Zealand