Fruit and vegetables was the only sub-group to record a downward contribution (down 0.3 percent) in the food price index in the November month. However, while veges were down 5.4 percent, fruit was up 7.9 percent.  Grocery food again lead the increase in prices.

Annual food prices were up 10.3 percent, after a 0.8 percent increase in the November 2008 month. A bit of a comeback following a drop to single digits in the year to October 2008 (9.9 percent).

Pushing prices up this month were grocery food (up 1.0 percent), non-alcoholic beverages (1.8 percent) and restaurant meals and ready-to-eat foods (up 0.6 percent).

Within grocery food, the most significant upward contributions were for yoghurt (up 6.8 percent) and bread (up 1.7 percent). Within fruit and vegetables, nectarines were up 57.2 percent, apples were up 17.5 percent, potatoes were up 13 percent, and carrots were up 26.3 percent.
On the year, all sub-groups recorded increases. Grocery food was up 11.5 percent, followed by fruit and vegetables (up 16.0 percent), meat, poultry and fish (up 9.7 percent), restaurant meals and ready-to-eat foods (up 6.5 percent) and non-alcoholic beverages (up 7.6 percent).

The largest individual item increases this year have been ready-to-eat food (up 7.5 percent), bread (up 18.3 percent), cakes and biscuits (up 17.0 percent), cheddar cheese (up 35.2 percent), potatoes (up 43.6 percent) and soft drinks (up 9.9 percent).

The grocery food subgroup accounts for around 47 percent of the food price index. Fruit and vegetables account for around 21 percent, followed by meat, poultry and fish (18 percent), restaurant meals and ready-to-eat foods (15 percent) then non-alcoholic beverages (7.55 percent).