Annual food inflation in New Zealand to 4.6% in June 2025, up from 4.4% the month prior and marking the highest rate since December 2023. The persistent rise in food costs continues to strain household budgets, with the grocery food and meat, poultry, and fish categories driving the increase - up 4.7% and 6.4%, respectively. Within the grocery group, milk, butter, and cheese saw notable price gains, with butter alone nearly five dollars more expensive than a decade ago, representing a 120% surge. Meat prices also jumped, led by a 22.3% increase in beef steak and a 15.6% rise in beef mince.