Food prices rose 0.7 percent in September, with groceries up 1.2 percent and fruit and vegetables up 2.6 percent.
Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) figures out today also show that after falling for four consecutive months, the annual measure of food prices started rising again last month with an increase of 1.3 percent for the year to September.
The figures for just the month of September show key factors in the 1.2 percent rise in grocery foods included a 7.8 percent increase in snack food prices, a 4.6 percent rise in chocolate, and a 4.5 percent lift in yoghurt.
The level of discounting for those three items was significantly reduced last month, SNZ said.
Yoghurt prices had reached a new high, with the September rise following increases of 5.2 percent in August and 7 percent in July, partly reflecting reductions in the size of yoghurt pottles.
The 2.6 percent rise in fruit and vegetable prices last month, compared to August, included a 49.5 percent rise in the price of broccoli, while lettuce was up 13.5 percent.
While broccoli prices usually rose in September, increases in the month of more than 40 percent had happened only three times since 1994. Lettuce prices had not had a September increase for at least 15 years, SNZ said.
The 4.6 percent rise in vegetable prices last month was the first for a September since 2006, with the prices of some vegetables being affected by high winds, flooding and snow last month.
Prices for meat, poultry and fish eased 1 percent last month, with fresh chicken down 7.6 percent and lamb chops down 6.3 percent, while ham rose 9 percent.
For the year to September, grocery food prices rose 2.6 percent with fresh milk up 12.1 percent, cheddar cheese up 25.7 percent, yoghurt up 14.7 percent, and butter up 53.3 percent.
Fruit and vegetable prices were up 6.8 percent for the year, while for the meat, poultry and fish category prices fell 4.3 percent.
