Food prices rose 1.9 per cent in the month of January and were up 0.8 per cent on a year earlier, according to the latest statistics from Statistic New Zealand.

While this is the largest increase in a single month since July 2011, food prices often rise in January, says Statistics NZ prices manager Chris Pike.

'In January, higher food prices reflected more expensive grocery food, after falls in recent months.

'We also had seasonally higher fruit and vegetable prices.”

The rise for grocery food (up 1.9 per cent) was led by cakes and biscuits (up 5.4 per cent), yoghurt (up 9 per cent), and bread (up 2.3 per cent).

Olive oil was discounted in January and was at its lowest price level since December 2002.

The monthly rise for fruit and vegetables (up 3.5 per cent) was led by seasonally higher prices for mandarins (up 23 per cent), apples (up 7.7 per cent), lettuce (up 20 per cent), and broccoli (up 38 per cent), says Chris.

Apple prices were at their highest level since December 2008.

Price rises for meat, poultry, and fish (up 2.2 per cent) and non-alcoholic beverages (up 2.2 per cent) were influenced by less discounting for lamb (up 25 per cent) and soft drinks (up 3.6 per cent).

The FPI measures the rate of price change of food and food services purchased by households.

Statistics NZ visits shops across New Zealand to collect prices for the FPI and check package sizes.