Food price inflation is picking up again

Latest Stats NZ data shows food prices increased 1.5 percent in the year to December, up from 1.3 percent in the year to November.

Milk and olive oil keep getting more expensive, while butter is one-and-a-half times pricier than a year ago.

Kumara got a lot cheaper, but it's still about one and a half times as expensive as it was two years ago.

Today's figures will be factored into the inflation rate - released on Wednesday next week.