‘Nothing moves’: Grim new warning of price rises.

Everywhere you look there is a problem.  High energy prices is helping the energy companies. 
High interest rate and lack of spares is chocking the entire economy.  

It's hard to have much sympathy here. For decades we've been shifting interstate freight from rail to road. This means running trucks on freeways that are clogged at both ends parallel to freight lines that stand underutilised. Rail freight uses vastly less fuel per ton-mile and works well for long distance freight, with trucks mainly reserved for more local trips.
We've put all our eggs in one basket and that basket is breaking.

Yup. We've had 70 yrs of very atypical prosperity and stability. Most of it is built on fuel and manufacturing supplied by countries that do not like us.

It has to end some time.

I agree that there's a lot of fear mongering out there at the moment, but keep in mind that it's not JUST this one increase.

$20 a week extra on an average shop - You're right. The average isn't defined so it's a bit ambiguous. But lets go with it. 
$12 a week extra when the fuel discount ends in September - Assuming a 60L tank and filling up each week.
$11.50 a week extra for electricity increases - Estimated 3% increase provided by aph, and rolling with Vic's average assumed consumption of a family of four.

That's a roughly $75 increase per month without even factoring in raising interest rate costs. Our broker told us that with the recent increase we can expect $11 per week more on our mortgage repayments when we finally settle. There's obviously more rate rises in the tubes, and our loan amount won't be anywhere near as high as the median house price in Australia.
Now factor in the amount of companies saying that they'll be folding soon if the fuel excise isn't fixed for the trucking industry and this is a part of the very start of inflated purchase prices. I wouldn't say it's all of it, but it'll definitely have a growing impact. 

It starts as not that big of a difference. $20 a week would be relatively easy to absorb for a family on a regular income that have ensured that they're not living outside of their means. But the reality is that you can plan as sensibly as you like. If you're on minimum wage or you're unable to work (disabled or the elderly, for example) for a lot of folks this isn't a non-issue. It'll be the straw that breaks the camel's back. And while it's pretty easy to roll our eyes at those who refuse to be prepared because they can't imagine any world other than one filled with sunshine and happiness, I have a lot of sympathy for the folks who simply can't be prepared. If you don't have any disposable income coming in that isn't already accounted for how can you even start to get yourself in a better position?

I think it's also worth keeping in mind that doom and gloom sells though. There's a certain amount of 'deer in the headlights' behaviour that can happen when we consume MSM (or any media, for that matter) so sometimes stories that will sell get pumped.
But I think SA is right in this case. Given the source, I'd say this particular story isn't scare-mongering. It's flagging so that the fat cats can say "see, but we warned you though! You should have tightened your belts when you had the chance!".

That's about right, and the likes of the UN is backing them up with things such as the Lima Declaration which started all the shifting manufacturing jobs to the third world countries in the first place.
Now we've lost the knowledge and facilities that once stood to be able to jump back into a "protectionist" mode and fire up the manufacturing sector again to allow us to become less reliant on imported goods.

Australia has one of the highest personal debts in the world.  Interests rate go up and banks no longer leading money.  
Many are already on the fiscal cliff in Australia, it will be like dominoes one goes and the rest just implode. 

Yeah fear mongering but world bank, US President, major agricultural business, even the main stream media are now are all warning and see no way out of the food shortage mess. 

Personal preparedness is very doable for those that see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.  Had a maths lecture that used to say some students see the light at the end of the tunnel but what they are actually seeing is an oncoming steam train in the tunnel.  

Food shortages will lead to global riots and chaos like never seen before.  Siri Lanka , Pakistan, most of the Middle east, Beirut, Egypt, tooooo many countries to mention them all.  Turkey has hyperinflation already.  South Africa now planning a national (10 June) strike no work or going to school till fuel prices come down. Shortages all over Europe etc.. etc..  Check my next post.

Bread riots took Rome down as well as the French monarchy and government, it has potential to take down civilisation. 


 

The 'abandoned pets' thing was always going to happen. The overwhelming majority of dogs you see in cities are fashion items, nothing more. The animals that were bought during lockdowns are no longer convenient for their selfish owners. So they get dumped.

Would love to see a ban on inbred pets like French Bulldogs etc. No dog lover would have an animal that has been bred to have trouble breathing so that it looks 'cute'.

Good work MWT. Our dogs have all been adopted too. Healthy, happy, loyal animals.

On the prepper front, if your dog can't defend you and doesn't offer obedience or the ability to be trained then it's just another mouth to feed. Yapping small dogs are a two edged sword. They 'may' provide early warning, but will often bark at anything and everything. This can also just attract unwanted attention as they are often owned by people without the means to defend themselves.

A sheppard cross who chose to come live with you is going to stick by you always and is an asset, not a liability.