NZ commodity prices level off in July, annual growth strong

NZ commodity prices level off in July, annual growth strong
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot Aug. 3 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand commodity prices dipped in July, with meat prices down for the first time this year, though prices across raw materials remain strong. The ANZ Commodity Price index slipped to 295.7 from 298 in June, led lower by declines in horticulture where prices fell 5.6 percent in the month. On an annual basis, the index rose 21 percent. A 3.4 percent drop in meat prices was lead by lamb, as new-season Northern Hemisphere production increased, while beef prices stopped rising as US production inc...