WA living costs soar
Posted
The cost of groceries and other essentials is continuing to rise. (ABC News: Gary Rivett)
Western Australia's peak welfare body says the cost of basic living expenses for families on average incomes soared by more than $61 a week over the past 12 months.
That takes the total increase in the cost of living over the past two years to $132 a week.
The figures from the West Australian Council of Social Service show that many families are now not earning enough to cover these expenses.
The organisation's Irina Cattalini says the economic boom is continuing to bust the budgets of average and below-average income earners.
She says the latest figures do not include all household expenses.
"It's based on food, housing, transport, medical and child care expenses, but it doesn't even include increases in things like energy or water, so we know that there are other cost pressures that families are also facing," she said.
