Food, power, and gas costs kept rising in the year to October 2025, tightening household budgets from the supermarket aisle to the power bill, according to Stats NZ.

On the Hibiscus Coast, many families will be feeling the pressure when they shop and switch the lights on.

Food prices rose 4.7 percent over the year, up from 4.1 percent in the year to September.

Grocery food had the biggest impact, up 4.9 percent, followed by meat, poultry, and fish, up 7.6 percent.

Some pantry basics have jumped sharply.

The average price for milk was $4.78 per 2 litres, up 13.5 percent in a year. Instant coffee averaged $7.88 per 100 grams, up 25.5 percent.

A 1 kilogram block of cheese averaged $12.71, up 30.1 percent, while a dozen fresh eggs averaged $9.88, up 18.5 percent.

“Those who enjoy eggs and coffee in the morning may have noticed them becoming more expensive,” Stats NZ prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.

She noted that over the last two years, milk is up 91 cents per 2 litres, while eggs are up 8.8 percent and coffee 12.4 percent.

There was a little relief in October.

Overall food prices fell 0.3 percent from September, driven by a 10.7 percent drop in vegetable prices, with lettuce, capsicums, and cucumbers all cheaper.

This is the first time this year food prices have fallen in consecutive months, although some fruits, including kiwifruit and apples, became more expensive.

Power costs continue to climb. Electricity prices rose 11.8 percent and gas 14.4 percent over the year, with 11 straight months of increases for both.

For Hibiscus Coast households, any dip in salad prices helps, but higher energy and staple costs are still doing the real damage.

Know something local worth sharing?

Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.