NZ food prices fall in February on cheaper fruit, veges, dairy helps drive annual gain

NZ food prices fall in February on cheaper fruit, veges, dairy helps drive annual gain
By Suze Metherell March 13 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand food prices fell in February on a seasonal dip for fruit and vegetables, while more expensive dairy products underpinned an annual gain in prices. The food price index slipped 1 percent in February following a 1.2 percent rise in January, according to Statistics New Zealand. In the year, food prices were up 0.2 percent, the smallest annual gain in nine months. The monthly decline was led by a 6.5 percent drop in vegetable prices and a 5.1 percent reduction in fruit, as tomato and appl...