New Zealanders are paying for the Government's poor
management of the economy, National Finance spokesperson
Bill English said today.
"Higher Government charges,
higher petrol prices and the lower exchange rate are big
factors behind the 2 per cent rise in the consumer price
index in the year to June.
"These higher prices are
putting pressure on family budgets.
"Today's CPI is
confirmation of the analysis we carried out before the
Budget which showed that the average family was paying about
$30 a week extra for basics.
"The exchange rate is an
international measure of confidence - or lack of it - in the
New Zealand economy.
"On top of that Government policies
from one-off charges through to the freeze in tariff
reductions is making it harder for families to make ends
meet," Mr English said.
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