With the hip pockets of flood-affected Queenslanders already hurting, it looks like the rebuilding effort may be weighed down by price increases from milk to moveable houses.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has already warned of scammers posing as donation collectors for the flood appeal. But there are shops and business whose products are under demand post-flood, and some Queenslanders have noticed higher than usual prices.
Bread, milk, vegetables: similar or up
According to YouTube’s Fat Aussie Bastard, stores in Ipswich have been charging $9 for bread, up from $2.50, and $8 for a litre of milk. Consumers in Spring Hill have been limited to just two bottles of milk per person, with meat and vegetables up. However some Queenslanders are reporting similar or lower prices in their local, so for those paying the big bucks for milk, check those out.
Eggs: up or non-existent
Apparently unless you have a flock of chickens in your back yard, eggs are hard to come by.
Coffee: up $1.50
And for those who are going back to work, one city worker has noticed coffee shops jacking up their prices by $1.50, possibly due to the aforementioned milk situation.
Movable houses: up by $50,000-$75,000
With some houses in Brisbane, Toowoomba and Ipswich unsalvageable, we’ve also noticed prices on movable housing going up. Before the floods one Crikey reader’s alerts on new houses had three-bedroom Queenslanders at between $75,000 and $100,000, with alerts for similar properties since Monday around $150,000.
Rental prices: up by $35-50 a week
For renters, Domain is betting the situation is not going to get any better. With many families displaced by last week’s floods, the rebuilding of houses will mean more competition for rental properties, and higher prices. In the three months to December 2010, the median weekly rent for greater Brisbane was $365 for houses and $350 for units. It’s been reported landlords are now charging more than $400 for properties.
Party ice: from $3.50 a bag to between $6-7 a bag
With more than 10,000 homes in Queensland unable to be reconnected to the power grid, ensuring milk, vegetables and butter don’t go off means ice is in high demand.
Pool salt: MIA
Because flood water brought mud and debris into the backyard oasis of many Queensland homes, pool salt is in high demand. One Crikey reader reckons they can’t find it anywhere.
Have you noticed a price hike since the Queensland floods? Leave your comments or drop us a line…
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