If the RBA says inflation is barely 2%...... My Land Tax this year is up 11%. Who is 9% wrong, me, Land Tax Office or the RBA?
I'm not sure if things like land tax aren't included in CPI figures. Governments get desperate during low inflation/deflationary periods so they'll increase fees for everything.
There are a couple of problems. Governments like a little inflation, because it reduces the real worth of their debts. But people think inflation is bad, so there is a constant incentive to under-represent it. The easiest way is to present a measure based on a basket of goods, then subtract those that make you look bad. Plasma TVs were great for years, as a consumer good that dropped in cost. Some US pundits claim an understatement of 2% in the US numbers and are pooh-poohed. Look up Shadow Stats. Of course, you don't buy a TV every week, but you do buy food. Eating habits change, luxuries become necessities, not many things get cheaper. However, any good work comes to naught if deflation kicks in, and Stagflation involves being kicked to death by a Scottish balloon animal, as far as I know.
I love getting a handwritten letter. And as such write as many as I can myself... even seal the letter with a wax seal. But I waste a lot of paper... my speling is atroshus!
Fruit and veg are about the same as last 5 years. Bulk Rump steak...No change in price last 5 years. Pork fluctuates but is about the same. Snags are about the same price. Cask wine is about the same. Beer is more expensive by about 2 - 3 bucks a carton. Spirits is a bit more expensive. 10kg rice has dropped. Cheese seems to have risen a little. Orange juice same price. Solar lights more expensive. Ammo and projectiles have increased a few bucks but I think this is over-flow from last year. Canned tucker...some of the packaging weights have reduced but the cost is the same. Price of tea had dropped. Pool salt is more expensive. Price of a 9kg gas bottle fill has dropped from 22 to 18. Fuel has dropped. KFC 5 piece pack has increased. A kilo of cooked prawns has remained similar. Oysters have increased about 1 -1.50 per doz. Lawn mowers are cheaper. Building trade prices have increased. Paint has become cheaper for brands like Pascal. Flash drives are cheaper. Phones are cheaper. ISP's are providing cheaper services or adding cons. Recycling, you'll get less for Brass, copper, al, cast-iron, steel. Bread is cheaper. Car servicing has increased. Car batteries are about the same price. I'd say the RBA is on the money.
Not sure where you buy Holdfast, but most of the categories that you note are up appreciably when we buy.
Maybe this is stating the obvious, but isn't "inflation" and "JulieW's Land Tax" two different things? Seriously though, the difference comes from tradeables (i.e. cheap Chinese junk) costing less, which partially offsets the non-tradeables (like education and housing) costing more. It's going to be a big problem because we can always buy less cheap Chinese crap but we're stuck with the non-tradeables because they're tightly integrated into our local economy. You can't just stop paying for education, plumbers and rubbish collection.
Mushrooms have jumped from $8.50 to $10.50 per kilo but you can buy Swiss Brown for the same price as common white shrooms. Memberships have stayed the same. Mags are about the same. Fishing hooks...no change. By the way a number 7/O live Bait hook produced by Gamakatsu hooks is not only one of the best game hooks in the world but has had very good price stability over the last few years. 5oz Mouse has increased in price. 1oz 2013 Chinese Koala privy has gone through the roof. 1oz Ox has increased as has the gilded Ox. Kilo Mouse has increased. 1oz gold Horse has increased. 1oz gold Dragon has gone nuts. Members on SS has increased. Milk spot observation has increased. Purchasing of new-release numismatic coins has decreased. Gold sales have dropped. Silver sales have dropped.
Just received an email yesterday from our private health insurer stating our premiums are going up about 7.5% this year.
