Quarterly change
In the June 2014 quarter, compared with the March 2014 quarter:
- The consumers price index (CPI) rose 0.3 percent.
- Housing and household utilities (up 1.2 percent) was the main contributor, reflecting higher electricity prices, rentals for housing, and purchase of newly built houses.
- Food prices rose 0.9 percent, influenced by seasonally higher vegetable prices and higher dairy prices.
- Package holidays (down 6.5 percent), fruit (down 4.9 percent), and purchase of vehicles (down 1.2 percent) were the main downward contributors.
Annual change
From the June 2013 quarter to the June 2014 quarter:
- The CPI increased 1.6 percent.
- Housing and household utilities (up 3.4 percent) and food (up 1.6 percent) were the main contributors to the rise.
- Transport (up 1.3 percent) and alcoholic beverages and tobacco prices (up 2.5 percent, influenced by a rise in tobacco excise in January this year) also increased.
The CPI measures the rate of price change of goods and services purchased by New Zealand households. Statistics NZ visits 3,000 shops around New Zealand to collect prices for the CPI and check product sizes and features.
Colin Lynch, Acting Government Statistician
ISSN 1178-0452
16 July 2014