Petrol one of biggest pressure points
COST-of-living pressures are the key factor in the way almost half of NSW families vote, an NRMA customer survey has revealed.
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COST-of-living pressures are the key factor in the way almost half of NSW families vote, an NRMA customer survey has revealed.
The survey, released on Monday, found petrol price was one of the biggest pressure points for families struggling to pay the bills.
On average, drivers said they were paying more than $50 more per week to keep their cars moving than they were this time last year.
About 70% of those who took part in the survey also believed they were forking out more at the grocery check-out to recoup the discounts offered on petrol shopper dockets.
NRMA President Wendy Machin said while petrol was just one of the pressures impacting NSW families, confident price hikes and volatility of price movement were making things worse.
She said despite believing petrol dockets were being offset by supermarket increases, families that previously didn't use them were relying on the dockets to save money at the bowser.
The survey also revealed one in five people was struggling to pay off credit card debt and almost half was driving less.
Notably, members said a 70% spike in electricity bills had hit them hardest.
Power bills are expected to increase once again when the Federal Government introduces the controversial carbon tax on July 1.
Almost half (48.9%) of members said cost-of-living pressure was the issue most likely to affect the way they vote.
Cost of living - How have families been affected in the past 12 months?
- 79% said they used petrol discount vouchers
- 75% eat out less often
- 65% said the cost of living had affected their stress levels
- 60% avoided buying luxury items
- 40% of Sydney residents said they bought a house in an area they weren't originally looking in due to housing affordability
- One in five (19%) are finding it increasingly difficult to pay off their credit card debt
Originally published as Petrol one of biggest pressure points
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