Food prices in New Zealand added 0.4% in June

Food prices in New Zealand added 0.4 percent on month in June, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday - after sliding 0.5 percent in May.

Fruit and vegetable prices rose 4.2 percent on month, while meat, poultry, and fish prices fell 0.2 percent with lower prices for lamb.

Vegetable prices rose 8.4 percent in June, led by seasonally higher prices for cucumbers, capsicums, and lettuce.

Grocery food prices fell 0.7 percent, with lower prices for milk, cheese, and eggs.

On a yearly basis, food prices fell 0.5 percent after slipping 0.3 percent in the previous month.

Compared with June 2015, cheese prices were down 9.5 percent, fresh milk was down 3.9 percent, and yoghurt was down 9.2 percent.

"The average price of a kilo of cheddar cheese was $7.68 in June 2016, down from $9.12 in June 2015. This was the lowest price since September 2007," consumer prices manager Matt Haigh said.

Meat, poultry, and fish prices decreased 0.9 percent in the year. Lower prices for chicken (down 5.3 percent), processed meat (down 2.9 percent), and lamb (down 5.2 percent) were partly offset by higher prices for beef (up 4.3 percent).

Fruit and vegetable prices increased 2.0 percent over the year, with continued record high prices for avocados (up 146 percent), partly offset by lower prices for tomatoes (down 20 percent).