NZ Food Inflation Slows to 4% in December

Annual food inflation in New Zealand slowed to 4% in December 2025, the lowest since April, from 4.4% in November. The grocery food group, which rose 4.6% year-on-year, contributed most to the overall increase in food prices. Meat, poultry and fish followed, climbing 7.4% annually. Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat foods, as well as fruits and vegetables, each rose 2.4%, while non-alcoholic beverages increased 3.6%.

Annual food inflation in New Zealand eased to 4.4% in November 2025, down from 4.7% in the previous month. The grocery food group, which rose 4.6% year-on-year, contributed most to the overall increase in food prices. Meat, poultry and fish followed, climbing 7.7% annually, while restaurant meals and ready-to-eat foods rose 2.4%. Fruit and vegetable prices increased 3.7%, and non-alcoholic beverages were up 4.4%, reflecting varied price pressures across different food categories.

Annual food inflation in New Zealand rose to 4.7% in October 2025, up from September’s five-month low of 4.1%. Grocery prices led the increase, climbing 4.9% year-on-year, while meat, poultry, and fish rose 7.6%. Among individual items, milk jumped 13.5%, instant coffee surged 25.5%, cheese spiked 30.1%, and fresh eggs increased 18.5%.