The rising cost of everything

"Systemic failures across the economy" are fanning the flames of rising prices everywhere you look. (Image: Getty)

Fri, 28 Feb 2025

I had the joy (not) of opening a letter from my energy provider on Tuesday.My electricity line charge will rise 13%. Electricity prices will lift 11.6%. Gas line fee 24% and gas itself 29%. Ouch.Mercury’s recent warning to residential customers of a near 10% rise in electricity bills this year didn’t seem so bad.Collectively, electricity and gas carry a weight of 3.1% in the consumers' price index so double-digit rises carry some inflationary punch.EntrenchingYou do not need to look far to see an entrenching inflation theme...

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