93.6% Of New South Wales In Drought - Food Price Hikes Coming - SMH

[hatrack]

NSW residents are being warned to tighten their purse-strings and prepare for further food price hikes with almost the entire state now in the grip of drought. New figures released today showed the long-running drought's hold on NSW was worsening, with 93.6 per cent of the state now drought declared compared to 89.3 per cent last month.

NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald labelled the latest figures disastrous, warning of steep increases in the cost of a range of foods including meat, vegetables, bread and milk.

Given the four-year drought was now one of the worst on record, there were no signs of conditions easing any time before mid-next year, he said. "There is no doubt that this drought over summer will come home to every family's dinner table in the Sydney basin," Mr Macdonald told reporters. "Price rises are inevitable on the back of very low supply."

Only 2.3 per cent of NSW is considered to be experiencing satisfactory conditions, with those areas confined to the far north coast.

EDIT

http://www.smh.com.au/news/scorchedearth/drought-to-hit-dinner-table/2006/11/12/1163266401232.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. Didn' t they have a spot of rain last week? I thought I read that. Fingers crossed. nt

[Bear down under]

2. And little Johnny's response?

Raise interest rates.