New Zealand Food Inflation Tops 5%, Highest Since 2023

2025-08-14 22:56 By Mojdeh Kazemi 1 min. read

Annual food inflation in New Zealand jumped to 5% in July 2025, up from 4.6% in June, marking the highest rate since November 2023.

The grocery food group led the increase, rising 5.1% due to higher prices for milk, butter, and cheese.

The meat, poultry, and fish group was the next largest contributor, climbing 7.9%, driven by beef steak (+24.6%) and beef mince (+19.3%).

Fruit and vegetables rose 7.3%, while non-alcoholic beverages increased 4.4%, and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat foods went up 2.2%.

Overall, rising grocery and meat prices were the main drivers of the annual food inflation.

The data highlights continued pressure on household budgets, particularly for essential staples.



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