Food prices have fallen due to lower prices for fruit, vegetables, and meat.
Photo: 123rf
Official figures show the food price index declined 0.7 percent in February compared with the previous month, and while people were paying more for sweets, energy drinks, and soft drinks, that was offset by cheaper prices for fruit, vegetables and meat.
Fruit and vegetable prices fell 2.4 percent, led by apples and tomatoes, while strawberries rose.
Meat, poultry, and fish fell 1.6 percent, with lower prices for lamb, beef, and chicken.
Grocery food prices decreased 0.6 percent, with lower prices for snack foods, yoghurt, chocolate, and bread, partly offset by higher prices for sweets.
On an annual basis food prices rose 1.5 percent.