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Surveys, surveys, surveys. There have been lots recently so we thought we would recap on what they tell us about our spending habits.
The good news is we Kiwis are spending less. The bad news is that we are still buying stuff we can’t afford. Statistics NZ has said on average over the past five years households have spent $1.06 for every $1 of income.
According to Research New Zealand Limited, shoppers are expecting to spend less on Christmas this year than they did last year: “Over one-third of respondents (35 percent) stated they were planning to spend less, compared with 54 percent who were planning to spend about the same and only eight percent planning to spend more.“
They also asked people whether they were going to spend more or less on holidays this year. Almost one-third said they were planning to spend less, compared with 52 percent who were planning to spend about the same and 14 percent who were planning to spend more.
We think spending less on Christmas is a good thing, and doubt that people will find the event any less joyous as a result.
How do you rate on the Christmas spendometer? Let us know by visiting www.oilyrag.co.nz.
The other major consumer “event” is the rising and rising price of petrol. It’s now creeping up to the $2 a litre level. The AA says the new emissions trading global warming levy and GST that are responsible for 10c of a net 20c price increase since January. Ironically it’s global cooling in the northern hemisphere that accounts for the other 10 cents – the escalating demand for fuel for heating has forced up the price of crude oil.
The AA’s website has some useful advice, including 10 ways to save fuel. Here they are:
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