Food prices eat more from weekly budget

Putting food on the table is becoming more difficult for the average household.

Otago University's school of human nutrition has released its annual food costs survey of how much it costs to feed a family based on healthy nutritional guidelines. The survey confirms what shoppers already know – it's getting more expensive to buy even the most basic of groceries. And in some areas prices have risen by more than half over the past five years.

The research records food prices in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, calculating the weekly food cost for a basic shop, a more extensive shop, and a liberal spend-up.

The Sunday Star-Times applied the figures to a family of four made up of two adults and a teenage boy and girl.

Auckland is the most expensive place for a family of four to eat. It costs $274 a week for basic groceries; $356 for a moderate spend, which allows for more variety and some convenience foods; and $426 for a liberal spend, which includes more convenience and imported foods.

That represents a trolley of groceries that is going to cost $14 more than it did a year ago for the most basic shop – although that is not as steep as the increase between 2008 and 2009.

The increase was worst in the south. Dunedin shoppers face a basic bill that's gone up $15 from $252 to $267, and the city can no longer boast of having the cheapest groceries – that claim is now made in Christchurch. Our family there would spend $263 on a basic shop, $343 on a moderate one, and $411 on a liberal spend. That's a $4 increase on a basic shop on this time last year.

Wellington is the second most expensive city, with basic prices almost on a par with Auckland, while Hamilton is the second-cheapest, with prices being just $2 higher than Christchurch.

But it's when comparisons to prices five years ago are made that the cost hikes are at their most obvious. In 2005 our Auckland family of four paid $175 for their basic shop, which means prices have risen by 50% in five years.

The most expensive city in 2005 was Christchurch, where the basic cost was $222 a week, meaning prices have increased only 18% in five years.

The survey also found something every struggling family knows – teenage boys are the most costly family members to feed.

The figures do not include non-food items such as personal care and cleaning products, or other household supplies such as rubbish bags and paper towels. The weekly cost of those for a family of two adults and two children is estimated at another $41.70 for a moderate shop.

Human nutrition associate professor Winsome Parnell said the jump in prices followed a similar pattern to other years but there were measures people could take to keep costs down.

"If you are a meat eater you could try having a bit less. While it's nutritionally good, you can look at using steak to make a casserole, for instance, or having a smaller portion of meat and more vegetables."

Parnell said if people had the ability to shop around they should, but she recognised that was not an option for everyone. She said time management was key to keeping costs down.

"Prepare as much as you can yourself. Set aside time at the weekend to prepare meals for the week ahead, then you're less likely to make that spontaneous trip to get takeaways. Learn to take pleasure in the preparation and get the whole family to help."

- © Fairfax NZ News