Rising cost of living has not only left New Zealanders spending significantly more on food, but has also influenced diets and shopping behaviour, according to research.
Agriculture banking specialist Rabobank and food charity KiwiHarvest found that 40 percent of households said they were now spending over $200 (US$125) a week on food, up from 35 percent in 2021.
“With food prices rising strongly over recent months, it’s no surprise to see household food spend has increased markedly from a year ago,” Rabobank’s head of sustainable business development Blake Holgate said in a statement.
“And with inflation also impacting prices for most other goods and services, it’s no shock to see the survey identifying ‘cost of living’ as the number one concern for Kiwis in 2022.”…