WELLINGTON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - New Zealand food prices rose 1.3 percent on the month in August, data from Statistics New Zealand showed on Tuesday, while the index rose 0.5 percent from August a year ago.
The August price rise was partly influenced by record high banana prices, Statistics New Zealand said.
"Banana prices were at their highest since the series began in 1949, reflecting a supply shortage from Ecuador," consumer prices manager Matt Haigh said.
Food prices make up nearly 19 percent of the consumer price index.
