Despite the Boxing Day shopping rush, new data shows consumers are grappling with big price hikes in everyday goods and services.
And that’s causing a big headache for the federal government.
In the two-and-a half years since the last election a number of items in the shopping trolley have gone up, according to analysis from the Parliamentary Library in Canberra.
Data shows eggs have gone up the most – increasing by 28.6 per cent, while a loaf of bread is up by 22.7 per cent.
In the dairy aisle, the price of milk and cheese is up by around 20 per cent.
It’s the same story for fresh fruit, which is up by 20.4 per cent, while breakfast cereals are also up 20.2 per cent.
But there’s good news for meat eaters, with the price of red meat – both lamb and beef – dropping by six per cent.
However, the hit to the hip pocket isn’t just at the supermarket.
We’re seeing big price hikes in insurance costs, which are up by 34.1 per cent.
And if you’re lucky enough to be thinking about an overseas holiday, you might need to think twice because international travel and accommodation has gone up by a whopping 50.7 per cent.
Petrol prices have also come down, while the price of childcare has remained relatively steady.
The government is trying to intervene by putting pressure on supermarkets to reign in price hikes.
Federal Labor is also dishing out those $300 rebates on electricity, which has seen power bills come down significantly in recent months.
The price rises are impacting the Labor government, who are losing support of a key demographic, those aged between 35-49 year-olds, according to the latest Newspoll analysis.
It shows the age group, who are likely to be paying a mortgage and struggling under continued higher interest rates, moving steadily away from Labor.
Over the last three months, the demographic has moved strongly towards the Coalition.
Those voters potentially blaming the government for cost of living pressures but Labor does say helping people with rising prices is their top priority.
As it gets closer to the next election, NSW is shaping up to be a key battleground state.
