Eligible families can now apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, with payments primarily issued in July. According to Dublin Live, the scheme provides €160 for children aged two to 11 and €285 for those 12 and older in second-level education. How do the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance rules … Read more
New Zealand petrol prices could drop to $2.50 per litre if the US-Iran ceasefire holds, according to AA Principal Policy Adviser Terry Collins. The interim deal has already driven international oil prices down from US$114 a barrel in May to US$72 in August, lowering local 91 petrol averages to approximately $3. Why are international oil … Read more
New Zealand power prices are currently driven by a combination of rising network infrastructure costs and constrained wholesale electricity supply, according to the Electricity Retailers’ and Generators’ Association (ERGA). Chief executive Bridget Abernethy reports that network charges account for 40% to 45% of recent price hikes, while a decline in gas generation and tight hydro … Read more
Irish households face a series of significant social welfare and fiscal shifts in the coming weeks, including the distribution of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and the potential expiration of temporary fuel tax cuts. These changes will impact family budgets and transport costs through the remainder of the summer. When is the … Read more
Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki has formally accused energy retailer Origin Energy of increasing electricity prices despite a recent Australian Energy Regulator (AER) benchmark that could lower bills by up to 7.2 per cent. Mr. Janetzki, also serving as the state’s energy minister, described the retail price hikes as “playing games” and warned that further retailers … Read more
The National Party has proposed a mandatory shake-up of the KiwiSaver scheme, including automatic enrollment for children at birth, a $1,500 kickstart, and a requirement for all workers to contribute to a scheme by mid-2028. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the plan would reach a combined 12% contribution rate by 2032, though the proposal faces … Read more
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins announced today that a future Labour government would reinstate free prescriptions from July 1, 2027. The policy aims to reverse the $5 co-payment reintroduced by the National-led coalition in 2024. According to Labour, the universal scheme is designed to remove financial barriers that prevent patients from accessing necessary medication. Why … Read more
New Zealand households can reduce electricity bills by aligning their power plan with specific appliance usage and daily consumption habits, according to research from the Electricity Authority. Because there is no universal “best” plan, experts warn that consumers must evaluate whether their energy usage is fixed or flexible to avoid paying higher rates for the … Read more
The Labour Party has pledged to cap weekly public transport fares at $20 for commuters in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, and $10 in all other regions, if elected in November. The policy, estimated to cost $65 million annually, would take effect in July 2027 and aims to address cost-of-living pressures for approximately 1.3 million riders. … Read more
The Rise of the Digital Price Detective In an era of persistent inflationary pressure, the way consumers approach the weekly shop is undergoing a radical transformation. We are moving away from the era of “brand loyalty” and into the age of the “Digital Price Detective.” Gone are the days when shoppers would walk into a … Read more