Fruit and vegetable prices jumped by 21 percent in the year to March. Photo: 123rf
New Stats NZ figures for the year to March show food prices increased by 12 percent for the average household.
Food and housing costs were the main drivers of inflation increasing 7.7 percent for the average household over the past year.
The highest-spending households saw the biggest increase in their living costs.
However, the lowest-spending households and Māori bore the brunt of higher food prices - fruit and vegetable prices alone jumped by 21 percent and grocery prices rose 12 percent.
Beneficiary households had the lowest increase to their cost of living, at 6.7 percent, driven by rent and interest payments.
More to come...