Higher petrol prices are pushing up living costs for Kiwis

New Stats NZ figures show inflation increased 0.93 percent for households in the first three months of the year -- as global petrol prices returned to pre-Covid levels.

Inflation for beneficiary households increased 1.1 percent -- partly due to rising rents.

Stats NZ says costs are going up faster for beneficiaries and low-spending households, with more of their income tending to go on rent.

Higher-spending households are able to take advantage of falling interest rates.