NZ food prices rise modestly in December

WELLINGTON: New Zealand food prices rose for a second month in December, driven by higher fresh fruit and vegetable, and meat prices, according to official data released on Monday.

The food price index rose 0.2 percent last month, to be 2.9 percent higher than a year ago, Statistics New Zealand said.

The biggest fall in prices was for non-alcoholic drinks, with a slight fall in grocery prices.

The food price index makes up 18.79 percent of the consumer price index.

Fourth quarter consumer price index data is due on Jan 19 with expectations in a Reuters poll for a rise of 0.4 percent on the previous quarter for an annual inflation rate of 2.6 percent.