Well the latest CPI numbers came out and to the government's relief they weren't as bad as some had predicted. They were still terrible mind you, but these days, 'not as bad as they could have been' is something the government will take as a win.

Had the CPI come out as bad as was predicted, it would have all but locked in another interest rate rise. Given the pressure that the government is under from what they laughingly call the far-right, more evidence of their failed economic management would have been devastating. So the inflation rate gives them a temporary reprieve although it ought to be noted that the main reason inflation didn't rise was due to the government increasing the budget deficit by cutting the fuel excise. Cutting inflation by increasing borrowing isn't a winning strategy.

Embedded in the details around the inflation rate, we find that one of the main causes for the high inflation is what they call the 'Housing Group' (ie the cost of maintaining a residence) and the main cause for it being high is electricity prices.

The numbers show that electricity increased by 22.4% in the year to June 2026. 22.4% !! The equivalent number for the previous month was 21.1%.

So rather than electricity prices coming down as we were promised way back when, they are increasing and the rate of increase is increasing.

At some point the powers-that-be are going to have to come clean and admit that all their promises about electricity prices coming down as more renewables are added was a pipe-dream. One wonders for how much longer they can disguise the fact that the renewables mania is causing the prices of electricity to become unsustainable.

It is said that Australia always does the right thing, but only after its tried everything else. Surely we are getting close to running out of wrong things to try.

Not satisfied with increasing electricity usage prices, suppliers are also upping their supply charges: or at least my company AGL is. I've had an increase in notices telling me that charges are “changing”, rip off language for “increasing”.

A couple of nights ago, the media advised that wholesale electricity prices have fallen again. So bloody what! We all pay retail prices which are climbing all the time.

Admittedly, at my time of life I have no trouble keeping up. Two old people. No debts. No expensive pastimes. Unlike youngsters with families.

But I do hate liars, cheats and carpetbaggers of the sort buggering up Australia and the futures of those youngsters.