Which foods have become less affordable for New Zealanders?
New Zealand is experiencing record food prices, with many essential items increasing in cost significantly faster than wages over the last decade. Economists attribute these trends to global demand and supply chain factors.
Why it matters
Rising costs of living are a primary concern for households and a central theme in national economic policy and political discourse.
Price rises have slowed, but the cost of food continues to increase. Photo / 123rf
Some essential food items have increased in price twice as fast as wages have risen over the past 10 years.
New Zealand has gone through a long period of food-price inflation, particularly propelled through the post-Covid period, but while price rises have slowed, the cost of food continues to increase.
Stats NZ data shows many types of food have hit record prices, including fresh fish at $49.62 a kilogram on average, lamb chops at $24.23 a kilogram, fried chicken at $17.12 for five pieces, fish and chips at $11.07, a fresh or toasted sandwich at $6.86, a meat pie at $6.61, two litres of milk at $5.12 and white sliced bread at $2.38 a loaf.
Others were at a level that was already a record, including long-grain white rice and canned pineapples.
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