The Cost of Living

L.R. Weizel

So apparently the cost of living has gone down, according to the CSO and various right wing economists. Am I the only one who's experiencing this to be a complete fib? Tescos especially have been raising their prices.

ibarelycare

What's really pissing me off is the price of petrol sneaking back up again since Christmas. Has the price of oil started rising again? I may be wrong, but I don't think so. It was great 5 weeks ago, petrol was as low as 91.9 in some places. Now it's above a euro again practically everywhere. It seems to be rising by about 2 cent a week in Tractamotors in Blanchardstown :mad:

Rb

Petrol/Oil is a scam here, they'll take their sweet time to drop the prices of it and claim that they've to sell of the stuff they bought in at the higher price first, then as soon as it starts to climb they stick the prices up again.

Absolutely disgusting and I sincerely hope some majorly bad sh1t happens those behind it.

L.R. Weizel

ibarelycare wrote: »

What's really pissing me off is the price of petrol sneaking back up again since Christmas. Has the price of oil started rising again? I may be wrong, but I don't think so. It was great 5 weeks ago, petrol was as low as 91.9 in some places. Now it's above a euro again practically everywhere. It seems to be rising by about 2 cent a week in Tractamotors in Blanchardstown :mad:

Was rising 1c a day in one garage in Ennis.

FlutterinBantam

L.R. Weizel wrote: »

So apparently the cost of living has gone down, according to the CSO and various right wing economists. Am I the only one who's experiencing this to be a complete fib? Tescos especially have been raising their prices.

What do the left wing economists say??

(It's Tesco by the way.)

L.R. Weizel

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

What do the left wing economists say??

(It's Tesco by the way.)

I can tell this isn't going to go well.

pcardin

L.R. Weizel wrote: »

So apparently the cost of living has gone down, according to the CSO and various right wing economists. Am I the only one who's experiencing this to be a complete fib? Tescos especially have been raising their prices.

I haven't noticed any fall. Most of shops actually raising their prices. Petrol becomes dearer again. Motor tax has increased again! :mad:

Biggins

Well bread, milk butter, peas, beans, weetabix, conrnflakes, nappies, etc have not dropped and those are just a few sample examples.

Frankly these plonkers are talking through their arse!
If they manage to pull themselves away from their boardtables, throw off the suits and put on some street clobber, go visit an estate of average homes - they would learn more in one afternoon about real life - than a convoluted oned made up from figures on a frakin' spreadsheet!

Fcuking assholes!

rossie1977

oil is currently $34.72 a barrel at this exact moment in time, it was $147 a barrel in the middle of july 2008

Biggins

rossie1977 wrote: »

oil is currently $34.72 a barrel at this exact moment in time, it was $147 a barrel in the middle of july 2008

Thats all very well but my heating bills are not going down and oil don't feed my kids!

anonymous_joe

Biggins wrote: »

Well bread, milk butter, peas, beans, weetabix, conrnflakes, nappies, etc have not dropped and those are just a few sample examples.

Frankly these plonkers are talking through their arse!
If they manage to pull themselves away from their boardtables, throw off the suits and put on some street clobber, go visit an estate of average homes - they would learn more in one afternoon about real life - than a convoluted oned made up from figures on a frakin' spreadsheet!

Fcuking assholes!

Cost of living is an aggregated estimate usually.

Haven't mortgage payments gone down?

If the cost of living does go down, it could bode well for our economy, because it'd make operating here cheaper, etc. That would remove the pressure on companies to leave for cheaper countries, such as Poland.

And we'll know it's really fallen (or officially at least) when the dole gets cut.

brosps

I bought: A huge roll
Fanta
Soup
Tayto

For 4 euro in applegreen the other day, so yall can suck my duck

It's also more acceptable to be stingy now which is very nice, espically when you don't like people for no reason

Biggins

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Cost of living is an aggregated estimate usually.

Haven't mortgage payments gone down?

If the cost of living does go down, it could bode well for our economy, because it'd make operating here cheaper, etc. That would remove the pressure on companies to leave for cheaper countries, such as Poland.

And we'll know it's really fallen (or officially at least) when the dole gets cut.

Well my mortgage hasn't dropped (maybe I am the odd one out!)
Food is still expensive, heating is still expensive, clothers are still expensive.

Would someone mind telling me what the fcuk in our daily lives has gotten cheaper that we buy daily?

mickoneill30

L.R. Weizel wrote: »

Tescos especially have been raising their prices.

And others especially have been lowering them. Supervalu (not generally known for being cheap) have lots of offers for a Euro. The fruit and veg in Lidl seems dead cheap to me now (can't remember what it was last year though). My budget for food is the same as it was last year and I don't think we're eating any different at home.

I used to do about 80% of my shopping in Tesco. I've given that up over the last 6 months. They seem to be on a par with Superquinns prices now (i.e. not very cheap).

Gummy Panda

Biggins wrote: »

Well my mortgage hasn't dropped (maybe I am the odd one out!)
Food is still expensive, heating is still expensive, clothers are still expensive.

Would someone mind telling me what the fcuk in our daily lives has gotten cheaper that we buy daily?

Fixed rate mortgage? (do these stay high even if rates drop?)

mickoneill30

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Fixed rate mortgage? (do these stay high even if rates drop?)

Bleedin right they do. I've about 2.5 years left on my crappy rate.

L.R. Weizel

Haven't mortgage payments gone down?

Most people paying a mortgage can afford to, poorer people rent. I rent.

And we'll know it's really fallen (or officially at least) when the dole gets cut.

No, most likely the dole will go down and people will struggle to survive. The people in charge of these decisions are little more than pompous sociopaths which is why nobody has any confidence in them.

It's many of these companies overcharging that make the cost of living so high. Does high minimum wage matter if they can charge whatever they like?

mickoneill30

L.R. Weizel wrote: »

Most people paying a mortgage can afford to, poorer people rent. I rent.

Good news for you then. Time to go to your landlord and look for cheaper rent.

http://www.easybourse.com/bourse-actualite/marches/irish-4q-residential-property-rent-12prc-on-year-report-617960

http://www.daft.ie/report/Daft-Rental-Report-Q4-2008.pdf

Turd Ferguson

With the cost of living these days it's amazing how many people still do it

Tech3

Theres several ways of saving money like taking some bog roll from a public toilet

rossie1977

Biggins wrote: »

Thats all very well but my heating bills are not going down and oil don't feed my kids!

thats my point though, the price of oil has fallen by 76% since july, yet nothing seems to have changed much at the pumps

Biggins

rossie1977 wrote: »

thats my point though, the price of oil has fallen by 76% since july, yet nothing seems to have changed much at the pumps

Yea, I think they are judging the cost of living by house prices and oil & gas too much!
Especially house prices!

Senna

Oil is cheaper now that it was 2 months ago when petrol prices dropped to around the 90c mark. its $36 today and was $37 on the 26 dec 2008.

sunnyside

Food is only cheaper if you buy it in Lidl/Aldi or get the Tesco/Dunnes own brand stuff. But they were always cheaper so it's not a price reduction.

Clothes and other consmer goods are sometimes cheaper because sales are more common that they used to be.

LightningBolt

Dollar has strengthened against the euro though unfortunately.

junkyard

Food prices here have always been high in this country thanks to Musgraves who supply Supervalue and a few other familiar names and will only supply what they make the most money out of. Compare the prices of Aldi/Lidel in France or Spain and you'll find they're nearly a third cheaper there. It's taxes and especially stealth taxes have driven the costs here over the top. Then to add insult to injury we're expected to take wage cuts on top of all the rip-offs, it's a f**king joke that's for sure.:mad:

Collie D

Senna wrote: »

Oil is cheaper now that it was 2 months ago when petrol prices dropped to around the 90c mark. its $36 today and was $37 on the 26 dec 2008.

Euro v Dollar exchange rate was better then

Économiste Monétaire

So, the people who are simply reading the figures, that the CSO supplies, are defined as "right-wing"? It's a positive analysis exercise, not a normative one. The consumer price index is an imperfect measurement of inflation; it's based on COICOP/HICP basket of goods and weightings. To remove the drop in mortgage rates, look to the HICP.

"Right-wing economists." :rolleyes:

Biggins

Économiste Monétaire wrote: »

So, the people who are simply reading the figures, that the CSO supplies, are defined as "right-wing"? It's a positive analysis exercise, not a normative one. The consumer price index is an imperfect measurement of inflation; it's based on COICOP/HICP basket of goods and weightings. To remove the drop in mortgage rates, look to the HICP.

"Right-wing economists." :rolleyes:

Translated and summarised: Its a load of convoluted cock and bull!

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

Biggins wrote: »

Translated and summarised: Its a load of convoluted cock and bull!

translated and expanded upon: I don't understand it so it's the devil!

Biggins

Biggins wrote: »

Translated and summarised: Its a load of convoluted cock and bull!

Father Mordmas wrote: »

translated and expanded upon: I don't understand it so it's the devil!

The CSO and various right wing economists report is what I meant by being a a load of convoluted cock and bull.

Économiste Monétaire is spot on and very accurate. Pity the report isn't but heck - they are telling the government what it wants to hear so it can sell us more shoddy Cowen philosophies and future daft (to be soon) implemented policies!

Gumbo

the major difference i have noticed is my mortgage, its dropped 370euro since Decembers payment!

but the essentials, like mile, bread, buter etc etc has stayed the same so far that ive noticed.

although i did notice that lidl are dropping their prices alot, a lazagne is dropping from 3.29 to 2.29, thats a big saving, fresh irish chicken pieces (thighs, legs) have dropped by a euro according to their latest leaflet.

but i do agree with the petrol thing, how is it still rising at the moment?

Économiste Monétaire

Biggins wrote: »

Translated and summarised: Its a load of convoluted cock and bull!

:pac:

COICOP Group|One month change|12 month change|Group Weighting (%)
01 Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages|+0.2|+3.0|11.742
02 Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco|+0.9|+6.9|6.048
03 Clothing and Footwear|-13.2|-6.9|5.416
04 Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels|-7.0|-7.9|16.509
05 Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance|-2.6|-1.1|4.422
06 Health|+2.8|+5.8|3.154
07 Transport|-0.8|-4.0|13.293
08 Communications|-0.1|+0.7|3.418
09 Recreation and Culture|-0.8|+0.5|10.104
10 Education|-|+5.6|2.043
11 Restaurants and Hotels|-0.6|+3.3|15.425
12 Miscellaneous Goods and Services|+4.6|+7.7|8.426
ALL ITEMS|-1.7|-0.1|100

This is what they're basing deflation on. If your own personal expenditure doesn't reasonably correspond to this, i.e. the weightings of each consumption group to total expenditure, then make your own index. The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) gives a more accurate reading, as opposed to vanilla Consumer Price Index (CPI). It's intended to be an aggregated generalisation; not true for every person.

L.R. Weizel

Biggins wrote: »

The CSO and various right wing economists report is what I meant by being a a load of convoluted cock and bull.

Économiste Monétaire is spot on and very accurate. Pity the report isn't but heck - they are telling the government what it wants to hear so it can sell us more shoddy Cowen philosophies and future daft (to be soon) implemented policies!

Excuse me, how is he spot on and very accurate if the report isn't?

The only reason I can think for this is that more people would be shopping in LIDL or ALDI or getting value brands - but for people who were already doing that, that's not really very fair.

Biggins

Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels -7.0 -7.9 16.509

Has someone changed my ESB/gas charged rates unknown to me?
Got my latest round of bills last week and nothing has dropped in them!

Excuse me, how is he spot on and very accurate if the report isn't?

ONLY spot on in that the reports are inaccurate that have been supplied.
Especially basic day to day paying bills for the majority of us.

Économiste Monétaire

Biggins wrote: »

Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels -7.0 -7.9 16.509

Has someone changed my ESB/gas charged rates unknown to me?
Got my latest round of bills last week and nothing has dropped in them!

You might want to check the sub-index for the answer.

Description|Dec 2006 base expenditure weight %|Current Index|% change 1 month|% change 12 months
Rents & other housing costs|9.5303|105.1|-10.9|-15.0
--Rents|2.8696|104.2|0.0|-7.2
--Mortgage interest|6.6607|105.4|-15.0|-18.0
Maintenance & repair of the dwelling|2.4521|103.4|-1.6|1.5
--Materials for maint. & repair of dwelling|1.5062|100.8|-2.7|-0.1
--Services for maint. & repair of dwelling|0.9459|107.6|0.0|4.0
Water supply, refuse & misc. services|0.5117|105.1|-0.1|-0.1
Electricity, gas & other fuels|4.0142|111.8|-1.1|5.2
--Electricity|1.5444|124.4|-0.6|16.8
--Natural gas|0.7560|99.1|0.0|20.1
--Bottled gas|0.1177|120.1|-0.1|15.0
--Liquid fuels|0.8538|90.4|-5.2|-28.9
--Solid fuels|0.7423|121.6|0.5|14.1
Total|16.5083|106.5|-7.0|-7.9

-- marks an indentation, i.e. a sub-group.

Heroditas

junkyard wrote: »

Food prices here have always been high in this country thanks to Musgraves who supply Supervalue and a few other familiar names and will only supply what they make the most money out of.

Exactly! They offer a limited amount of goods at high prices to 600 Super Valus and Centras and as a result, the price is kept at an artificial level. There is absolutely no competition in this country.
Even if ASDA come into the market, they'll simply pitch their prices maybe a tiny bit lower than Tesco/Dunnes. :mad:

Wurly

Yep - I think its a complete load of balls too.

I just spent 86 euros on groceries and I was thrifty with my purchases. You'd swear for that price, i'd have gotten loads of stuff.. But I only managed to fill 2 green bags.. Total rip off.

I have not seen prices go down anywhere. My rent is still the same. The only thing that is a small bit lower is my weekly wage, thanks to the Brian's.

johnnyskeleton

L.R. Weizel wrote: »

So apparently the cost of living has gone down, according to the CSO and various right wing economists. Am I the only one who's experiencing this to be a complete fib? Tescos especially have been raising their prices.

More importantly, wages are going down. If a loaf of bread goes down 1% but your wages go down 10%, the real cost of a loaf of bread has increased considerably. The nominal cost of living may have gone down, but the real cost of living has increased massively.

gurramok

I concur about Tesco's especially. I reported in Rip-Off Ireland forum that they reduced their prices for about 2 weeks in January and then promptly lifted them at the end of January to around Xmas levels. Dunnes have done the same. Tesco's were reported to have the most hikes on food in a recent Consumer agency report. Its stated in the Irish Times website somewhere!

So yeh, food prices have gone up. I'll keep monthly trip going up north thank you Brian's

silverharp

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

More importantly, wages are going down. If a loaf of bread goes down 1% but your wages go down 10%, the real cost of a loaf of bread has increased considerably. The nominal cost of living may have gone down, but the real cost of living has increased massively.

on the plus side no compulsion to trade cars every 2 years , 30K weddings how are you? , New York shopping trips...... so although your quantity of living has gone down , you may end up with money in your account at the end of the month.:D

Biggins

Never gave much tought about the wedding business in Ireland.
They are really gonna take a wallop this year.

..but back on subject - if the mafia *sorry, government* tell us life is getting cheaper here, they are talking through their ass - AGAIN!

lily lou

mickoneill30 wrote: »

Bleedin right they do. I've about 2.5 years left on my crappy rate.

A friend of mine bought out of her fixed mortgage, it cost €1200 I think but the savings covered this in 3 months. The price of buying out seems to change regularly, but it's worth a try.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

I guess it has dropped somewhat, some companies still charge huge prices, my rent hasn't gone down either. No idea how I could challange my landlord about that either...

The_Minister

Biggins wrote: »

Translated and summarised: Its a load of convoluted cock and bull!

BIG WORDS SCARE ME!!!!!!!!111!!!eleven!!

sunnyside wrote: »

Food is only cheaper if you buy it in Lidl/Aldi or get the Tesco/Dunnes own brand stuff. But they were always cheaper so it's not a price reduction.

I wish we had a 'sceptical' smiley.
:rolleyes:: Will do.

Lets break this down.
Good 1 is cheaper then Good 2 always.
The price of Good 1 has fallen.
Since Good 1 is always cheaper then Good 2, there has been no price reduction.

sounds good.

The_Minister

Trí wrote: »

My rent is still the same.

Rents don't magically go down on their own - you have to negotiate with your landlord, or move out.

If you are content to pay last years rate then he isn't going to complain.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

The_Minister wrote: »

Rents don't magically go down on their own - you have to negotiate with your landlord, or move out.

If you are content to pay last years rate then he isn't going to complain.

If you moved in to a new place a few months ago, after a while found out it is difficult to pay rent, if you move out before your contract is up then what? I think the landlord would take your deposit at the very least. Not sure if the landlord would be willing to reduce the rent in a lot of cases.

evercloserunion

Chicken fillet roll for €1.63 in the Londis on Dame St, woohoo!

jimmycrackcorm

I just started shopping in ASDA so my cost of living has come down dramatically.