Prices on items such as whiteware and webcams ... had a surge in prices in March

Price and product site Price Spy says throughout March, items now considered to be 'essential goods' jumped by as much as 550 dollars.

Chest freezers had the biggest hike, increasing by 28 percent.

Auckland University marketing expert Bodo Lang says it's sad.

He says it will affect the poor and most vulnerable the most because they won't be able to store their food properly if they can't afford a freezer.