Stats NZ’s consumer prices manager talks about fruit and vegetable prices for December 2018.
In December 2018, getting your five-plus (5+) a day servings of fruit and vegetables was cheaper than for the same time in the previous year. Unfavourable weather conditions in 2017 reduced the supply of many fruits and vegetables, and pushed prices up, while conditions in 2018 and fresh fruit and vege prices returned to more normal levels. Fruit prices were almost 4 percent cheaper this December compared to last, while vegetable prices were down 7 and a half percent.
An iceberg lettuce, avocado and kiwifruit were all around one quarter lower in price this December.
Lettuce fell from a record high in July of $5.42 per 500g head, to $1.04 per head in December.
Avocado prices also reached a record high
earlier in the year peaking at $5.06 per 200g avocado in May and these prices came back down to $1.72 in December.
Egg prices, meanwhile, were higher in December compared to the same month in 2017.
The cost of a dozen eggs reached a record high of $4.25 in December, with prices up 10 percent on the previous year.
Eggs are a staple in many kiwi households, and are used in a lot of cooking and baking. Egg industry reports suggest that the average New Zealander eats around 200 eggs a year with retail sales worth more than $280 million.
Overall, food prices increased 1.0 percent in the December 2018 year, and fell 0.2 percent in December compared to November.
