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- WAIRARAPA TIMES-AGE

12:00PM Monday February 04, 2008

Shoppers cheesed off at dairy price hikes

Carterton mother Catherine Wilkinson and son Angus shopped for milk, but not cheese.

Record pay-outs for milk solids and the fact the global supply of milk and its by-products cannot keep up with demand have resulted in soaring prices for these commodities.

In a survey undertaken in Masterton, Wairarapa shoppers were united in their disbelief at the prices and the impact at the check-out of buying what was once regarded as staples, but are now being reclassified by housewives as luxuries.

Prices fluctuate from store to store, and specials on some lines make it impossible to pin-point an exact price for most lines but a survey yesterday showed most shoppers could expect to pay around $14 to $15 a kilo for a brand name cheese, almost $5 for butter and around $2.40 for a litre of milk.

Carterton mother Catherine Wilkinson, who was shopping in Masterton on Friday, with her two-year-old son Angus said she had restricted her dairy product buying this week to milk, paying $4.38 for a two-litre bottle.

"I only buy cheese now when the big blocks come on special.

I have to buy butter now and again as I do baking, and it hurts a bit."

Mrs Wilkinson said her understanding of the high price for the " chain reaction" that started with fertilizer cost increases and the flow on effects of Fonterra's record pay-out to farmers.

Retired Masterton couple Janet and Jeff Dimock said they hadn't purchased cheese, butter or milk on their Friday order.

Mrs Dimock said prices had gone " over the top"

"We do buy small amounts of cheese and we buy milk because you kind of have to have milk."

Similar comments were made by Alan Lyster, also retired.

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