Meat offsets price rises

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 14

Meat offsets price rises

Increases in the price of coffee and cereals were offset by fluctuating meat prices, causing this month’s grocery “basket” to vary little in total cost from last month’s. The $1.51 decrease was caused mainly by a big drop in the price of stewing steak, from $6 a kilogram to $3.75. A IOOg jar of coffee rose in price from $3.52 to $4.13, and a 300 g pack of cornflakes cost $1.20 compared with $1.05 last month. Other price increases included: Baked beans 2c, cheese 10c, biscuits 6c,

pet food 3c, beef sausages 19c, bacon 4c. Groceries to decrease in price included: Tea 23c, butter 2c,‘flour 3c, soap 3c, toilet paper 6c, chickens 10c. A spokesman for G.U.S., Ltd, said prices were recently increased for oat cereal lines, honey, Johnson’s baby products and baking items such as cake mixes. Last week icecream and ice-cream products were Increased in price about 5 per cent. The increases arose partly from wage settlements and the drop in

value of the New Zealand dollar, he said. Trading in general, however, had been

healthy, and winter lines were becoming more popular because of the recent cool weather.