NZ food prices flat in July as eating out gets more expensive, fruit gets cheaper

NZ food prices flat in July as eating out gets more expensive, fruit gets cheaper
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth Aug. 11 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand food prices were unchanged last month as the cost of dining out got more expensive, offsetting cheaper fruit.  The food price index was flat on a seasonally adjusted basis in July, holding the annual increase at 3 percent, Statistics New Zealand said. That was due to a 2.4 percent monthly decline in fruit prices, led by hefty drops in the price of avocados and strawberries, balancing out a 0.7 percent increase in restaurant meals and a 4.6 percent jump in the price of hot drinks such as...