Beliefs Vs Reality

With Australia's carbon price to take effect from July 1 (this Sunday) there's been some polling done on what Australian's are expecting. The startling thing for me was the enormous difference between the beliefs and reality. Here's a quick rundown.

Belief: 71% of people expect a moderate or large increase in cost of living.
Reality: Treasury forecast of 0.7% increase in prices.

Belief: 53% of people expect fuel prices to increase a lot.
Reality: The carbon price does not apply to petrol.

Belief: 41% said grocery prices would increase by a lot
Reality: 2 cents per loaf of bread.

Belief: 5% think they'll be better off.
Reality: About 45% of households will be better off (and at least another 20% will be about the same as before).

One of the best info sources i've found on this topic is Your Carbon Price - and possibly also my piece The Facts on Food.


Also the Climate Institute has an analysis of the figures.