The cost of putting food on the table, keeping the lights on and getting to work continues to climb across Aotearoa, with new figures showing significant price increases for everyday essentials and renewed warnings that working families are struggling to keep up.
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi says the latest Stats NZ figures for September 2026 demonstrate that cost-of-living pressures remain a major challenge for households, particularly those on lower incomes.
Food prices increased 2.4 percent in the year to September, but several household staples rose considerably faster.
Bread increased 6.3 percent, milk 6.8 percent and breakfast cereals 6 percent.
Meat prices also climbed, with beef and veal up 5.8 percent, while mutton, lamb and hogget increased 10.7 percent.
NZCTU President Sandra Grey says these increases are particularly concerning because they affect essential foods that families purchase regularly.
Basic Groceries Costing More
According to figures highlighted by the NZCTU, the cumulative price increases since November 2023 have been substantial.
| Household essential | Increase since November 2023 |
|---|---|
| Bread | 21.8% |
| Milk | 28.9% |
| Cheese | 15.0% |
| Beef and veal | 34.8% |
| Mutton, lamb and hogget | 40.7% |
The union argues that these increases are placing sustained pressure on household budgets, even where the overall rate of food price inflation has moderated.
For families already managing high housing costs, transport expenses and other financial commitments, rising grocery bills can mean cutting back on other essentials.
The cumulative figures also highlight the distinction between slower inflation and falling prices.
A reduction in the annual inflation rate does not mean groceries have become cheaper. It means prices are generally rising more slowly than before.
Power and Petrol Deliver Another Blow
The pressure extends well beyond the supermarket checkout.
Stats NZ figures show electricity prices increased 9.5 percent in the year to September, while gas prices rose 11.4 percent.
Fuel costs have climbed even faster, with petrol increasing 24.3 percent and diesel rising 55.8 percent over the same period.
In September alone, petrol prices rose 6.4 percent and diesel 7.8 percent compared with August. Stats NZ says international supply disruptions have contributed to the fuel price increases.
For households relying on vehicles to get to work, school or medical appointments, higher fuel prices leave less money available for groceries and other essentials.
The NZCTU warns that families cannot simply stop heating their homes or travelling to work, meaning rising energy and transport costs can force difficult decisions elsewhere in household budgets.
Māori Whānau Face Additional Financial Pressures
For Māori whānau, particularly those on low or fixed incomes, rising costs can compound existing financial challenges.
Households with several tamariki, kaumātua or extended whānau living together may face significant weekly food bills, while those in rural communities can be particularly dependent on private vehicles.
Higher petrol and diesel prices can also affect transport and distribution costs for Māori businesses, including those operating in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and regional tourism.
The concern is not simply the price of individual products, but the combined effect of food, energy, housing and transport expenses on household financial security.
When essential bills absorb a larger share of income, families have less flexibility to meet unexpected costs or save for the future.
NZCTU Challenges Government Over Cost of Living
NZCTU President Sandra Grey says the continued increases demonstrate that working people remain under considerable financial pressure.
The union is critical of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s Government, arguing that its promises to ease the cost of living have not translated into sufficient relief for households.
With the November 7 general election approaching, the NZCTU is urging voters to consider the impact of rising living costs when assessing the Government’s record.
However, changes in food and energy prices are influenced by several factors, including international commodity markets, supply disruptions, production costs and domestic competition. Price increases during a government’s term do not, by themselves, establish that government policy caused them.
The latest figures nevertheless underline the affordability challenges facing households.
Inflation Slowing Does Not Mean Prices Are Falling
While overall food prices were unchanged between August and September, they remained 2.4 percent higher than a year earlier.
The latest data also shows differences between categories, with fruit and vegetable prices falling 1.8 percent annually while grocery food prices rose 3 percent. <Cite ref=”turn890919search0″/>
For households, the key issue is whether wages and other income are keeping pace with the cumulative increases in essential expenses.
Even when inflation slows, families may continue paying substantially more than they did several years ago.
With the September-quarter consumer price index due for release on October 22, further information will soon be available about inflation across the wider economy.
Cost of Living Remains a Major Election Issue
The latest figures reinforce the importance of household affordability in the election campaign.
Political parties face questions about how they would address energy costs, food prices, household incomes and the financial pressures facing families.
For the NZCTU, the concern is that workers and their whānau are being forced to absorb repeated increases in expenses they cannot avoid.
As bread, milk, electricity and fuel continue to take a bigger share of household budgets, the challenge for political leaders is demonstrating how their policies will deliver meaningful and lasting relief for New Zealand families.
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