Fruit and vegetables received special mention among the Australian Bureau of Statistics CPI figures for leading the few price rises, followed by takeaway food, which increased by 1.5pc.

Fruit's prominent role, especially, in leading the CPI statistics is likely to be to stir vigorous comment from many Australian fruit growers.

Stone-fruit growers recently have been claiming prices received for their fruit have fallen below cost of production.

They’ve been vocal in criticising the supermarkets for not paying enough for their fruit.

Contributing most to the the sharp fall in the CPI, petrol led a long list of prices falls.

Petrol prices plunged by 18.2pc, as the cost of imported crude oil plummeted.

Pharmaceuticals prices shed 4.7pc. Cars cost 2.4pc less.

Overall, Australia’s quarterly inflation rate dropped by 0.3pc in the fourth quarter of last year.

That takes the annual inflation rate down from a worrying 5pc, outside the Reserve Bank's inflation target, to nearer 3.7pc, according to the ABS figures.

That compares with an increase of 1.2pc in the third quarter. (Details in separate story).