Families across New South Wales are continuing to face relentless cost of living pressures, with new figures showing Sydney inflation remains higher than the national average.
Figures for the year to February 2026 show Sydney’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) sitting at 3.8 per cent, confirming a trend of persistent, high inflation under Chris Minns and Labor.
Crucially, these figures represent the economic landscape prior to the launch of the Iran conflict on the final day of February and the resultant global economic shock.
With Sydney’s cost of living already higher than the national CPI (3.7%), Melbourne (3.3%), and Brisbane (3.7%), Labor’s failure to rein in costs during the pre-conflict period has left already struggling families dangerously exposed to the coming global price shocks.
The following essentials have seen increases well above the 3.8% headline inflation rate in the year to February 2026:
- Electricity: up 14.5%
- Child Care: up 8.9%
- Beef: up 7.8%
- Gas: up 7.3%
- Property Rates: up 7.1%
- Urban Transport Fares: up 5.2%
- Medical and Hospital Services: up 4.5%
Shadow Treasurer, Scott Farlow, said these figures show the cost-of-living crisis in NSW is far from over and is getting worse every day.
“These inflation figures are bad news for families,” Mr Farlow said.
“What is worse is these figures are from before the shocks from the Iran conflict. Transport costs in particular will add further pressure in the months ahead.”
“Families are being squeezed at the supermarket, at the petrol pump and on their electricity bills with real risk this gets worse before it gets better.”
“While the cost of housing, food and essential bills continues to rise, state taxes have grown by 30 per cent since this Government came to power. Everywhere people look there is another tax or charge to pay under Chris Minns and Labor,” Mr Farlow said.
“The Minns Labor Government is sitting on their hands and has no plan to ease the cost burden on NSW families.”