Affordability
Electricity prices rose 12.0%.
CPI food prices were 2.5% higher in the year to June 2026. CPI electricity was 12.0% higher and made an 8.4% contribution to the 4.1% annual CPI rise (about 0.3 percentage points). MBIE’s QSDEP advertised residential rate was 42.1 c/kWh on 15 August 2026.
Data as of 23 Sept 2026
Topic verdict rule: insufficient indicators. Official significance, published CIs, then like-for-like year-on-year — never hand-set.
CPI electricity annual change
Insufficient12 % · weak confidence
Fewer than two official observations — no trend can be derived.
Stats NZ · as of 16 Jul 2026 (opens in a new tab)CPI electricity class, June 2026 quarter vs June 2025. Electricity made an 8.4% contribution to the 4.1% annual CPI rise (about 0.3 percentage points).
CPI / SPI food group annual change
Insufficient2.5 % · weak confidence
Fewer than two official observations — no trend can be derived.
Stats NZ · as of 13 Jul 2026 (opens in a new tab)Selected price indexes food group, June 2026 vs June 2025.
QSDEP advertised residential electricity price
Insufficient42.1 c/kWh · weak confidence
Seasonal series needs the same quarter or month a year earlier. A short within-year run is not a trend.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment · as of 23 Sept 2026 (opens in a new tab)National average advertised low-user residential tariff, 8,000 kWh/year model household, GST and prompt-payment discount included.
QSDEP advertised residential electricity price moved from 42.0 c/kWh to 42.1 c/kWh (May 2026 → August 2026). Verdict Insufficient is derived (insufficient), not an editorial call. The movement is an association in the official series.
Official or openly licensed primary sources only. Definition changes and revisions can move a series without a real-world change.
What this does not tell us