Fruit, veges cheaper

Press, 10 August 1985, Page 3

Fruit, veges cheaper

Fresh fruit and vegetable prices dropped 6.7 per cent in July, almost offsetting significant price rises for butter, biscuits, bread, sugar, confectionery, meals away from home and takeaway food. The drop in fresh fruit and vegetable prices was the third in as many months, and the biggest drop for this group in recent months. Eggs showed no rise at all in July. Processed fruit and vegetables, however, rose 3.7 and

3.2 per cent, respectively. Beef, hogget, smallgoods and prepared meat and poultry all showed significant price increases, according to the Acting Government Statistician, Mr R. J. Latimer. Poultry particularly rose 2.5 per cent in price for the month. The meat, fish and poultry group showed an over-all rise of 1.2 per cent.

Other groceries showed the following rises: dairy products, 2.9 per cent; cereals and cereal products, 1.4 per cent; jams and spreads, 0.4 per cent; beverages, 0.6 per cent; other grocery food, 3 per cent; soft drinks, fruit juices and ices, 0.2 per cent; sweets, potato crisps and peanuts, 2.7 per cent; meals away from home, 1 per cent; and takeaways, 0.9 per cent.