The cost of everyday essentials is still rising unsustainably, says the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi. Kiwis’ wallets are being emptied by the weekly grocery shop, the monthly power bill, and at the petrol pump.
New StatsNZ figures for September 2026 show food prices rose 2.4 percent compared to September 2025, and some staples rose much faster. Bread is up 6.3 percent, milk 6.8 percent, breakfast cereals 6 percent, beef and veal 5.8 percent, and mutton, lamb, and hogget 10.7 percent.
“These aren’t luxuries. Bread and milk are what families put on the table every day, and they’re getting harder to afford,” says Sandra Grey, NZCTU President.
These rises add to the increases of previous years. Since Luxon’s Government took office in November 2023, bread has risen 21.8 percent, milk 28.9 percent, cheese 15 percent, beef and veal 34.8 percent, and mutton, lamb and hogget 40.7 percent.
Households are also paying more to keep the lights on and the car running. Electricity prices are up 9.5 percent on September 2025 and gas 11.4 percent. Fuel prices are spiking again, with petrol up 24.3 percent and diesel up 55.8 percent.
“Working people can’t choose not to heat their homes or drive to work. When power and fuel go up, something else has to give, and too often it’s food or the doctor’s visit.”
That means a falling standard of living for many households, particularly those on lower incomes. This is simply unsustainable.
“Luxon promised to ease the cost of living, but the price of the basics has kept rising every year under his watch,” adds Grey. “Working people can’t afford more of the same. Things don’t have to be this hard. Don’t risk 6 years of Luxon.”
