Families still struggling under cost of living pressures

14/11/11

The latest analytical cost of living indexes show that over the year to September the cost of living for employees rose by 3.9%, for pensioners it increased by 4.1%, for recipients of other government transfers it rose by 4.1%, and for self funded retirees it increased 3.8%.

These increases are well above the official inflation rate of 3.5% over the same period.

These numbers reflect the real world spending patterns of different household groups and are a more accurate indicator of the cost of living pressures faced by Australian families. 

This is not the time for a new carbon tax on Australian families. According to the government’s own numbers electricity prices will increase by 10% in the first year alone of the carbon tax.

Wayne Swan must immediately ease the cost of living pressures by slashing reckless spending, and forgoing his plans for new taxes on carbon and mining.