The consumers price index (CPI) fell 0.2 percent in the December 2012 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today. Seasonally lower vegetable prices and more discounting for furniture were partly countered by higher housing and transport prices. “The CPI has fallen in four of the past five December quarters – the exception being 2010, after the GST increase,” prices manager Chris Pike said. Lower prices for food (down 1.8 percent), household contents and services (down 1.8 percent), and communication (down 2.0 percent) were the main contributors to this quarter's fall. These were partly offset by rises for housing and ... (full story)