Food prices increased 2.2 percent in the year to February 2017, led by higher prices for fruit and vegetables, and dairy products, Stats NZ said today.

"This was the largest annual increase since December 2011," consumer prices manager Matthew Haigh said.

Higher prices were seen in all sub-groups except meat, poultry, and fish (down 2.0 percent). Fruit and vegetables were up 7.7 percent and grocery food was up 2.3 percent.

Vegetable prices were up 12 percent, led by higher prices for carrots, kūmara, and tomatoes. Carrot prices are at an all-time high, up 51 percent since February 2016. One kilo of carrots cost $3.53 in February 2017, compared with $2.34 a year ago. Apple prices also contributed to the large movement, up 32 percent from February last year. However, apple prices in February were down 13 percent from January.