'Simple things make it really difficult': Why pensioner households have had fastest inflation
New Zealand data shows that pensioner households are experiencing the highest inflation rates, driven largely by rising costs for electricity, rates, and petrol. Many retirees on fixed incomes are struggling to maintain their standard of living as essential costs continue to climb.
Why it matters
This highlights the vulnerability of fixed-income populations to inflationary pressures, raising concerns about social welfare and economic policy.
Whangārei pensioner Bruce Tebbutt says he's noticed the price of everything increasing recently.
"Groceries, power and petrol which I guess are all the obvious ones."
He said he had other income streams as well as receiving NZ Super, which meant his household was more able to absorb the increases, but he could see why many could not . "I was really aware when doing supermarket shopping recently how much things had risen in cost."
He said if his circumstances were different, he probably would have been looking to return to the workforce, if he could find a job.
Data from Stats NZ this week showed he isn't the only one feeling the pressure. Superannuitant households had the highest annual inflation rate of any household type, up 4.5 percent over a year, compared to 3.7 percent for beneficiaries and 3.2 percent for all households.
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