For weeks I’ve been pointing toward the December quarter Consumer Price Index (CPI) announcement as being crucial to setting the tone for interest rates this year.

Well, the result was really encouraging and basically signalled the top of this interest rate cycle. The headline CPI rose 0.6 per cent for the December quarter and 4.1 per cent for the year… well below what economists were expecting and down from the 5.1 per cent annual rate for the September quarter.

The headline was good news, but the RBA actually focuses on the “trimmed mean” which takes out one-off, volatile components of the CPI basket to give a more stable reading. The trimmed mean CPI came in at 0.8 per cent for December (it was expected to be 0.9 per cent) and 4.2 per cent for the year.

But here is the important part. The RBA expected this annual trimmed mean figure at the end of 2023 to be 4.5 per cent. So, Wednesday’s figure came in better than the RBA prediction. They have to be happy with that.

To put it into perspective, this time last year the annual rate was a whopping 7.8 per cent. It has nearly halved in a year on the back of the steep rise in interest rates.

Now is the time to buy any new furniture and look at those lamb and goat prices – that helps with the cost of meals.

But the increases were in tobacco (because of the rise in excise taxes), new dwelling costs, rents and insurance premiums.

Speaking of which, you should never automatically renew an insurance policy. Always check whether you can get a better deal elsewhere. You’ll be amazed at what you can save. I’m biased as the economic director of Compare the Market, but comparison sites are just so easy to use to find a better deal.

Housing is the biggest sub-sector of the CPI at 22 per cent of the CPI basket. It measures the change in the cost of newly constructed dwellings and major renovations by owner-occupiers, and the change in rents paid to landlords.

For the purchase of new homes, the CPI measure eased to 5.1 per cent, down from 5.2 per cent in the previous quarter and a peak of 20.7 per cent in the year to September 2022. While the rate of increase is easing, residential construction remains a substantial contributor to inflation overall and was the most significant contributor to inflation in the last quarter. High labour and material costs continue to put pressure on the price of new homes.

Annual growth in the rent component of CPI was 7.3 per cent, down from 7.6 per cent. Over the decade before COVID, average annual rent rises averaged 2.3 per cent. So, still very high but they seem to have steadied and hopefully continue to slow. Fingers crossed they eventually get back to that 2.3 per cent level.

The ultimate energy bill hack to save you hundreds of dollars

Energy costs still remain stubbornly high in the CPI figures. But here is an easy energy hack to slash your bills.

Grab your last energy bill and look for the panel which says, “Could you save money on another plan?”. The Australian Energy Regulator has made this a compulsory part of all energy bills.

Your energy retailer must examine your usage and notify you if there is a better plan for you to be on. They have to point out the savings and then you have to contact them and change over. They won’t automatically do it for you.

It is right under our noses but very few people actually read the panel.

That’s an immediate saving within your own provider. It should prompt you to also check other providers to see if there is a better deal as well.

Property values continue to climb… but it’s patchy

CoreLogic’s national Home Value Index (HVI) rose 0.4 per cent in January, which is up from the 0.3 per cent increases seen in November and December – it’s the 12th straight month of value rises.

But the housing market performance remains patchy around the country. Three capitals recorded a subtle decline over the month (Melbourne -0.1 per cent, Hobart -0.7 per cent and Canberra -0.2 per cent), while Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane values continued to rise at a monthly rate of 1 per cent or more.

Perth was again the standout with home values up a further 1.6 per cent in January.

House values have continued rising at a faster rate relative to unit values in January, with the gap between the median capital city house and unit values rising to a record high of 45.2 per cent in January. Across the combined capitals, detached housing values rose by half a percent over the month, adding the equivalent of around $4,800 to the median house value while units increased a smaller 0.1 per cent, equivalent to a $900 lift.

Despite inflation and rising interest rates, demand for property remains strong. Big migration figures are bringing in more potential buyers and a lot of renters are switching to buying because of soaring rents.

As I constantly say, property is all about demand and supply. A lead indicator on the level of housing supply coming down the pipeline is building approvals, or the number of development applications being approved by councils for new properties. Then it takes an average of 2-3 years for that building to be completed and obviously longer if it’s a block of units.

Building approvals were down 9.5 per cent in December; units down 22.4 per cent and houses 0.6 per cent. In fact, 2023 was the weakest year for building approvals in 10 years.

So there certainly isn’t much housing stock coming online over the next few years to ease the shortage.

Fighting with the family: A third of Aussies argue with loved ones over money

Summer holidays are meant to be the most cheerful time of year, but 38.3 per cent of Australians are arguing with their loved ones over the rising cost of household bills. I know it is probably stating the bleeding obvious, but I always reckon it’s interesting to see what everyone else is arguing about to judge whether Libby and I are any different.

According to a Compare the Market survey of their customers, the bills causing the most arguments are groceries (76.8 per cent), energy bills (65.6 per cent) and fuel costs (47.9 per cent).

Meanwhile, just over a quarter are disgruntled about the cost of car insurance (27.6 per cent) and health (25.8 per cent).

It makes sense that people are arguing the most over energy and fuel costs because they’ve increased the enormously over the last year.

Australia’s big energy retailers have reported a dramatic increase in the number of households struggling to pay their electricity bills. One company revealed there are more people accessing hardship programs now than at the peak of the pandemic.

The research shows that for Boomers in particular, everyday expenses are causing them more arguments, whether it’s with providers, people who live with them or otherwise. This is surprising in a way as there’s a public perception that Boomers have it easier and are wealthier than their younger counterparts.

But not everyone who retires has retired comfortably. Pensioners, in particular, might be experiencing higher increases in the cost of living, which could be why older Australians are arguing over rising bills the most. The dollar isn’t stretching as far, so if people are dipping into their super or relying on government payments, it’s going to be hurting the household budget.

In retirement there is always a fear of running out of money because there isn’t the safety net of a regular wage landing in your bank account to help with unexpected bills.

A couple of tips from me to reduce the arguments and to stop the household bills from bubbling over:

Compare your bills

From your energy bills to your healthcare costs and mortgage repayments – make sure you’re on the most competitive deal. Comparison websites like Compare the Market take all the hard work out of having to do your own research. If it’s been a while since you’ve switched providers, then you’re probably paying more than you need to. Spending a bit of time comparing your bills each month can save you a ton of money.

How to lower your energy bill

• Ditch the dryer and instead use the sun or an indoor rack placed near a sunny window to dry clothes.
• Close all the doors, windows, and blinds to trap the cool air inside when running the AC.
• For cooling, set your air conditioner temperature between 24°C and 26°C. Each 1 degree of extra cooling or heating could increase your electricity usage between 5-10 per cent.
• Open your windows and doors to create cross breezes and use fans to circulate and cool the air.
• Make sure you are using energy efficient appliances.
• Turn off switches if you’re not using appliances. Vampire power can add 10 per cent to your power bill.

Negotiate or switch to a lower interest rate

Mortgagees need to make sure they’re on a competitive low rate. If you find a rate that’s lower than the one you’re on, ask your current lender to match it. If they don’t at least offer you a discount, be prepared to walk. We’ve had someone recently refinance through Compare the Market who saved $623 on her monthly mortgage repayments. Suitable products and rates available to you can vary, but it’s worth checking to see how your rate stacks up.

Fuel up for less

You can save money every time you fill up your car by simply checking cheap fuel finder apps like the Simples app. But if you’re still feeling the price pain at the bowser, maybe try carpooling, public transport, walking or cycling. You could also try driving at off-peak times to avoid getting stuck churning through fuel in traffic. Maybe there’s a gym near your work and you could do a workout before work and stay ahead of the morning peak hour commute.