Rt Hon Jenny Shipley Leader of the Opposition Thursday 7 September 2000

Families' grocery bills sky-rocket under Labour

Families' grocery bills are sky-rocketing under the Labour-Alliance Government, Opposition Leader Jenny Shipley said today.

"The Ann Hercus shopping basket, begun under Labour, shows her grocery list is a whopping $17 more expensive today than last October.

"The 42 items in the grocery trolley rang up a $115.84 bill at the supermarket checkout this week.

"Last October families paid just $97.37 for the same shopping list. This is the biggest increase recorded since we took over the Ann Hercus shopping basket in 1990.

"This Government has been hard on many New Zealanders, and families are feeling it in the hip pocket. The low New Zealand dollar is leading to huge cost increases on essential items like nappies, rice, peanut butter and sugar

"The extra Government-imposed costs are being passed on to families. Suppliers and supermarkets have been signalling price increases over recent months. Clearly New Zealand families are now paying the price for a Labour Government.

"Most families know they are having to find more each week for their groceries.

"This simple shopping test shows they are right.

"The Government talked a lot of rhetoric before the election about more for New Zealanders.

"There's no doubt that the Government is making New Zealanders pay more for day-to-day living.

"The Government's anti-business, anti-investment policies are having a flow-on effect by increasing the cost of doing business and contributing to the plummeting dollar, " Mrs Shipley said.

Ends

The Ann Hercus Shopping List

Item October 1999 $ Item September 2000 $
100 watt Light Bulb .95 100 watt Light Bulb 0.85
Instant Coffee 100g 2.99 Instant Coffee 100g 4.76
Bell Tea 250g 2.29 Bell Tea 250g 2.59
Raro 200g 0.90 Raro 200g 0.90
Bacon 230g 3.13 Bacon 230g 3.20
Steak Mince 450g 3.99 Steak Mince 450g 3.13
Sausages 450g 1.80 Sausages 450g 2.01
Meadowlea Margarine 500g .89 Meadowlea Margarine 500g 1.99

Butter 500g 1.92 Butter 500g 1.92
Soya Oil 500ml 1.52 Soya Oil 500ml 1.95
Cheese 1kg 6.29 Cheese 1kg 6.55
Peanut Butter 375g 2.39 Peanut Butter 375g 2.63
Honey 500g 2.12 Honey 500g 2.60
Vegemite 235g 2.05 Vegemite 235g 2.05
Palmolive 600mls 2.29 Palmolive 600mls 2.35
Jif 600g 3.78 Jif 600ml 3.79
Toothpaste 150g 1.39 Toothpaste 175g 2.48*
Nappies 2 dozen 8.95 Nappies (16) 13.90
Tampons 10 regular 2.83 Tampons 20 regular 2.25*
Toilet Rolls 4 pack 1.99 Toilet Rolls 4 pack 2.78
Soap Powder 1kg 1.99 Soap Powder 1kg 5.66
Sponge Cloths 2 2.30 Sponge Cloths 3 .88*
Scotchbrite Scourer 1.08 Scotchbrite Scourer 1.94
Potatoes 1.08 Potatoes 1.95
Carrots 1.29 Carrots 1.50
Apples 1.49 Apples 2.37
Frozen Peas 1kg 1.63 Frozen Peas 1kg 2.40
Ice Cream 2L 2.99 Ice Cream 2L 4.07
Rice 1kg 1.39 Rice 1kg 1.52
Weetbix 750g 3.07 Weetbix 750g 3.25
Porridge 1.5kg 3.80 Porridge 1.5kg 3.79
Chocolate Wheaten 200g 1.99 Chocolate Wheaten 200g 1.79
Bread 1.49 Bread 1.69
Tomato Soup Conc 450g 1.42 Tomato Soup Conc 420g 1.45*
Tomato Sauce Refill 300g 1.49 Tomato Sauce Refill 580g
1.66*
Baked Beans 440g .89 Baked Beans 425g 1.35*
Sugar 1.5kg 1.87 Sugar 1kg 2.70*
Flour 1.5kg 1.50 Flour 1.5kg 1.70
Eggs 1 doz size 7 2.24 Eggs 1 doz size 6 2.27
Foil 4.5m 1.35 Foil 4m .89*
Gladwrap 1.48 Gladwrap 1.59
Tidy Bags 3.79 Tidy Bags 3.59
Chef catfood 425g 1.29 Chef catfood 425g 1.15

TOTAL $97.37 TOTAL $115.84

* These prices have been adjusted to ensure consistency in weight, quantity etc.

Identical or equivalent items were purchased at a Wellington supermarket. As in the past, the list includes any specials that apply at the time of buying.

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