New Zealand Food Inflation Eases to 13-Month Low

2026-04-16 23:01 By Chusnul Chotimah 1 min. read

Annual food inflation in New Zealand slowed to 3.4% in March 2026 from 4.5% in the previous month, reflecting the first monthly moderation in food inflation in three months.

The latest figure also marked the lowest food inflation since February 2025.

The meat, poultry, and fish group rose 7.3% (vs 7.5% in February), which was the largest contributor to the annual increase in food prices, followed by restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food, up 2.8% (vs 2.7% in February).

By contrast, olive oil and free-range eggs prices fell by 7.6% and 10.3%, respectively.

On a monthly basis, food prices dropped 0.6%, mainly weighed down by fruit and vegetables (-2.9%) and grocery food (-0.8%).



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New Zealand Food Inflation Eases to 13-Month Low
Annual food inflation in New Zealand slowed to 3.4% in March 2026 from 4.5% in the previous month, reflecting the first monthly moderation in food inflation in three months. The latest figure also marked the lowest food inflation since February 2025. The meat, poultry, and fish group rose 7.3% (vs 7.5% in February), which was the largest contributor to the annual increase in food prices, followed by restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food, up 2.8% (vs 2.7% in February). By contrast, olive oil and free-range eggs prices fell by 7.6% and 10.3%, respectively. On a monthly basis, food prices dropped 0.6%, mainly weighed down by fruit and vegetables (-2.9%) and grocery food (-0.8%).
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