New Zealand food prices edge higher in March

[WELLINGTON] New Zealand food prices were fractionally higher in March as a rise in grocery prices offset cheaper fruit and vegetables, official data showed on Wednesday.

The food price index rose 0.1 per cent compared with a 0.7 per cent fall the month before. The index was 1.9 per cent higher than the same month last year, the biggest annual rise since December 2011, Statistics New Zealand said.

Food prices make up nearly 19 per cent of the consumer price index, which will be released on April 20.

REUTERS