In news that will both delight and terrify children at the same time, the cost of both chocolate biscuits and broccoli has fallen.

Figures released yesterday by Statistics New Zealand show the cost of the often maligned green vegetable - George Bush once quipped he hated it as a child and as US President he did not have to eat it - has fallen in August 2012 by 34.1 per cent.

In the same month the cost of chocolate biscuits fell 10 per cent.

And it is good news on the barbecue front as well, with the cost of beef sirloin steak falling by 7.1 per cent.

The popular cut, also known as porterhouse, is a favourite among meat lovers who like to throw them on a hot plate.

The cost of blade beef steak, however, has gone up 8.3 per cent for the month of August.

Owner of the Frankton Butchery, Jim Ashton, said the price fluctuations were seasonal.

"Blade steak is a good casserole and braising steak and with the cold weather a lot more people would be buying meat to put in a slow cooker," he said.

With not much grass on the ground this time of year stock was harder to find and that was adding to the price of many cuts of meat.

Mr Ashton said he absorbed the cost of any rises in the cost of beef to keep the prices consistent across the year.

He also had this tip for anyone cooking up a piece of steak: Cook it in a hot pan and not for too long.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Comments