Food prices fell in October as cheaper fruit and vegetables offset higher meat prices.
Cheaper fruit and vegetables helped bring down food prices. Photo: RNZ
Statistics New Zealand figures put the Food Price Index 1% lower than September but 0.8% higher than a year earlier.
Fruit and vegetable prices were down 8.8%, with tomato costs dropping from an average $11.39 per kilogram in September to $7.11 per kilogram in October.
Grocery food prices fell 0.3%, influenced by discounting for sauces, and cakes and biscuits.
Meat, poultry, and fish prices rose 2%, however. Lamb, which was up 15%, was at its highest level since December 2011.
Food prices make up nearly 19% of the Consumers Price Index.