“Fruit and vegetable prices increased 5.7 percent, and over the year, accounted for more than half of the overall increase," consumer prices manager, Matt Haigh said. Fruit prices increased 7.9 percent in the year to July 2015, influenced by higher prices for grapes and avocados.

Restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food rose 1.9 percent, while non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 3.9 percent. Meat, poultry, and fish rose 1.5 percent, influenced by higher prices for beef (up 7.1 percent).

The combined rise in these four groups was partly offset by lower grocery food prices (down 1.5 percent). 

Food prices rose 0.6 percent in July

In the July month, food prices rose 0.6 percent. This follows a 0.5 percent rise in June and a 0.4 percent rise in May. Fruit and vegetables rose 3.0 percent, and contributed two-thirds of the overall increase.

Prices for fruit rose 2.0 percent in the month, influenced by higher prices for mandarins and grapes. After adjusting for seasonal influences, however, fruit prices rose only 0.8 percent.

Vegetable prices rose 3.6 percent, but fell 0.2 percent after seasonal adjustment. The rise was influenced by seasonally higher prices for lettuce.

Meat, poultry, and fish prices rose 1.3 percent. The biggest contribution came from chicken (up 5.2 percent, but still 4.5 percent below its peak in December 2014).

Grocery food prices fell 0.1 percent, led by lower prices for bread (down 1.2 percent) and butter (down 4.5 percent). Fresh milk prices were up 0.4 percent, but were down 6.7 percent for the year.