Hibiscus Coast supermarket shoppers are likely feeling the squeeze as food prices keep climbing.

Stats NZ says food prices rose 4.6 percent in the 12 months to January 2026, following a 4.0 percent increase in the 12 months to December 2025.

Grocery food prices rose 4.0 percent and contributed the most to the annual increase.

Meat, poultry, and fish rose 8.9 percent annually.

Some of the price moves are sharp.

White bread averaged $2.21 for 600 grams, up 57.9 percent annually, while beef porterhouse or sirloin steak averaged $45.48 per kilogram, up 22.9 percent.

A chocolate block averaged $6.89 for 250 grams, up 20.5 percent.

Takeaway coffee averaged $5.16 per cup, up 6.6 percent.

Soft drinks, potato crisps, and olive oil were lower than a year earlier.

“Coffee drinkers may have noticed their takeaway coffee becoming more expensive, with prices up $0.32 over the past year. The last time there was an annual increase this high (of more than 30 cents) was in the 12 months to March 2024,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.

“The price of a takeaway coffee is now $1.12 higher than five years ago.”

Food prices rose 2.5 percent in January 2026 compared with December 2025.

Stats NZ says all food subgroups increased over the month, led by grocery food, up 2.3 percent, and fruit and vegetables, up 6.7 percent.

“The last time prices for all food subgroups increased in a month was June 2025,” Growden said.

“The 2.5 percent increase this month is the largest monthly increase in food prices in four years.”

Fuel moved the other way.

Petrol and diesel prices fell 2.4 percent and 3.2 percent from December 2025 to January 2026.

Compared with January 2025, petrol was down 4.8 percent and diesel was down 4.9 percent.

“New Zealanders may have noticed a decrease in both petrol and diesel prices at the pump. This is the first time both petrol and diesel have decreased in price monthly and annually since June 2025,” Growden said.

Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.

Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]