David Hargreaves: December quarter inflation figures....

Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes show moderate price pressures over December, indicating few likely nasty surprises in next week's December quarter inflation figures

Food prices edged up 0.1% in December, following a 0.1% drop in November, according to Stats NZ.

Point of Order: Bigger benefits from tomorrow – bravo! But they might not buy as much as before

Ministers have been celebrating their wisdom in raising benefits substantially from April 1.

Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni led the chorus by telling Parliament it is the biggest lift to main benefits in decades. For many years, the rate of main benefits has fallen further behind the average wage, placing many people, including children, in undue hardship, she said.

That was an unusual admission, given the Labour Party has been in office for four years.

So now the good news: