Inflation grinch stalks Christmas as food prices rise faster

Inflation grinch stalks Christmas as food prices rise faster
Inflation is turning into the grinch who stole Christmas, says Westpac. (Image: Getty)
Greg Hurrell
Food prices rises are increasing, with a 10.7% annual rise to November 2022, compared with a 10.1% rise in the year to October, according to Statistics NZ figures released today.The biggest contributor to this rise was grocery food prices, up by 10%, followed by fruit and vegetables, which rose 20%. Meat, poultry and fish rose by 12% and non-alcoholic beverages by 7.8%.The biggest drivers for grocery food were cheddar cheese, yoghurt and standard two-litre bottles of milk. The rising prices of potatoes, bananas and onions drove up fruit and veg...

More Economy

Willis teases new RBNZ governor after GDP drop
Economy

Willis teases new RBNZ governor after GDP drop

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says a new Reserve Bank of New Zealand governor will be announced “very shortly” as she comes under growing pressure to tackle NZ’s economic woes.Economists are calling on the RBNZ to cut the official cash rate (OCR) more aggressively after yesterda...

Dire economy opens door for 50bps cut in October
Economy

Dire economy opens door for 50bps cut in October

The New Zealand economy contracted 0.9% in the June quarter. 

Rebecca Howard 18 Sep 2025
Economy contracts 0.9% in June quarter
Economy

Economy contracts 0.9% in June quarter

GDP has now fallen in 3 of the last 5 quarters.

Rebecca Howard 18 Sep 2025
Life insurance market shrinks
Finance Risky Business

Life insurance market shrinks

Foreign firms dominate as affordability, tax and access barriers stymie growth.

Michael Neilson 18 Sep 2025