Diesel prices continued surging in April, rising 36.6% during the month, while petrol prices increased 12.6%, according to new figures from Stats NZ.
Stats NZ says the increases follow price rises recorded for both fuel types in March.
“In the two months since February 2026, petrol has increased 33.6 percent and diesel has increased 94.9 percent,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden says.
Compared with April last year, diesel prices were up 91.3% while petrol prices climbed 30.1%.
Stats NZ says the largest annual increases for both petrol and diesel were recorded in June 2022, when petrol rose 37.7% and diesel increased 95%.
Electricity and gas prices also continued rising in April, with electricity prices increasing 2.4% during the month and gas prices up 0.3%.
“Electricity prices have been increasing every month from December 2024,” Growden says.
Annually, electricity prices were up 13.1% and gas prices rose 10.8%.
Domestic and international airfares also increased in April, rising 4.2% and 6.2% respectively.
Stats NZ says Easter, school holidays and Anzac Day falling in April contributed to the increase.
Despite the monthly rise, domestic airfares were down 6.9% annually and international airfares were down 6.5%.
Food prices were flat overall during April, with grocery prices increasing 0.7% while fruit and vegetable prices fell 2.3%.
Higher prices were recorded for avocados, meat pies and chocolate blocks, while kiwifruit, apples and lamb prices declined.
Annual food inflation eased to 2.6% in April from 3.4% in March.
The largest contributor to annual food price inflation was meat, poultry and fish, which rose 7.8% over the year.
