NZ food prices rise 1.3% in January, on spike in apples, kiwifruit, vegetables

NZ food prices rise 1.3% in January, on spike in apples, kiwifruit, vegetables
Feb. 13 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand food prices rose in January, as a smaller, later apple crop drove prices for the fruit to the highest in 16 years, while kiwifruit, strawberries, tomatoes and lettuces all rose. The food price index increased 1.3 percent in January after a 0.3 percent gain in December, according to Statistics New Zealand. Prices gained 1.2 percent from January 2014, again led by fruit and vegetables. Prices of fruit and vegetables rose 8.3 percent and typically record a seasonal rise in January but this year the effect...