WELLINGTON, July 13 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand food prices rose 0.2 percent in June, led by higher prices for avocados and soft drinks, the country's statistics department Stats NZ said on Thursday.
The average price for a 200g avocado was 4.52 NZ dollars (3.3 U.S. dollars) in June, compared with 3.38 NZ dollars (2.47 U.S. dollars)in May.
"Avocado prices tend to peak in the winter before falling in spring as new fruit become available," consumer prices manager Matthew Haigh said in a statement.
"Prices are back near the record level in June last year," Haigh said, adding that fruit and vegetable prices eased off somewhat in June, from their highs in May.
Lettuce and broccoli prices were down, but tomato and kumara prices continued to rise, Haigh said, adding that Kumara prices were at their highest-ever level -- 8.18 NZ dollars (6 U.S. dollars) per kg.
A wet autumn pushed up vegetable prices to high levels in May, Stats NZ said.
Despite a monthly fall of 0.4 percent for fresh fruit and vegetables, annual vegetable prices kept food prices rising in the year ended June 2017, it said, adding that overall, food prices increased 3 percent in the year.
Vegetable prices increased 18 percent in the year ended June 2017, led by higher prices for tomatoes, kumara, and lettuce, it said, adding that grocery food prices rose 2.1 percent in the year to June 2017, led by higher prices for dairy products.
