Food prices rose 0.3 per cent in May bit were down 0.1 per cent on a year earlier, according to figures from Statistics New Zealand.

The rise in May follows a rise of 0.2 per cent in April and a fall of 1.3 per cent in March.

In May, fruit and vegetable prices rose 2.1 per cent.

'While vegetable prices rose six per cent this month, fruit prices fell 2.6 per cent, reflecting seasonally cheaper kiwifruit and mandarins,” says prices manager Chris Pike.

Vegetable prices were influenced by lettuce which was up 38 per cent and cucumber, up 110 per cent.

Chris says cucumber prices usually rise in May, and previously rose 70 per cent and 75 per cent in May 2012 and 2011 respectively.

Meat, poultry, and fish prices rose 0.5 per cent in the month, influenced by higher prices for sausages, up 9.9 per cent, due to less discounting.

Grocery food prices rose slightly, up 0.1 per cent, influenced by higher prices for butter, up 27 per cent and cheese, up 4.7 per cent, says Chris.

The average price of the cheapest butter option when prices were collected in May was $3.77 per 500 grams, compared with $2.97 in April.

The price of chocolate, up 2.8 per cent, was influenced by less discounting for chocolate bars and blocks, up 6.5 per cent.
The price of packaged coffee, down 4.6 per cent, was at its lowest level since November 2010.
Annual change in prices:

For the year to May 2013, the food price index (FPI) decreased 0.1 per cent.
Grocery food prices, down 1.2 per cent, made the main downward contribution for the year.

The prices for snack foods, down 4.3 per cent, fresh milk, down 1.8 per cent, and bread, down two per cent, decreased in the year to May 2013.
Non-alcoholic beverage prices, down 0.5 per cent, also decreased, influenced by packaged coffee, down 6.7 per cent.

According to a statement released by Statistics New Zealand, these decreases were offset by price increases for restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food, up 0.7 per cent; meat, poultry, and fish, up 0.9 per cent; and fruit and vegetables, up 0.9 per cent.

Avocados, up 64 per cent, potatoes, up 8.6 per cent, and cucumber, up 24 per cent, all had upward influences on food prices.