Canberra Residents Adapt Daily Habits as Soaring Fuel Prices Reshape Lifestyle
In response to escalating fuel prices, Canberra residents are significantly altering their daily routines, with many reducing family visits and reconsidering holiday plans, as car transport becomes increasingly costly. The impact extends beyond households, affecting local businesses that report a noticeable drop in customer activity.
Households Cut Back on Travel and Social Outings
Samantha, a local mother, has scaled back weekly trips to see her parents with her young children due to the financial strain. "We do not leave the house much," she explained. "We used to go and hang out with my mum or my nan's during the day ... I'm home with the kids but we don't do that anymore. We just stay home and hang out at home." With a diesel vehicle, her family has felt the pinch since prices exceeded $3 per litre. On March 25, unleaded fuel in Canberra's inner south was priced at $2.49, while diesel reached $3.05.
Justin Brown and his family have adopted more frugal driving habits, using eco mode and being selective about journeys. "We have to be a bit more selective about the journeys we take," he said. Mr. Brown also shops around for the best fuel prices, noting that elevated oil prices may persist even after global conflicts ease, necessitating ongoing cost-saving measures.
Easter Holiday Plans Under Review
Robyn Ngui is rethinking her family's traditional Easter getaway to the south coast as fuel prices climb. "I am thinking ahead for family plans for Easter ... and thinking about whether we'll follow through with those plans or not," she stated. She urged the government to remain vigilant and explore all options to address the issue, emphasizing, "I don't want them to be asleep at the wheel."
Local Businesses Struggle with Declining Demand
Karam Singh, owner of Star Car Wash, has observed a recent decline in customers, particularly over the past two weeks as petrol prices rose. "There's no alternatives, I've tried to reduce my labour costs," he said, adding that his wife now assists unpaid to cut expenses. With 95% of his business from regulars who are stretching out car washes, Mr. Singh noted similar challenges at his Canberra Centre location and among other local business owners, who are also feeling the pinch from reduced driving and combined pressures of rising interest rates and fuel costs.
Greg Harford, chief executive of the Canberra Business Chamber, highlighted that businesses are grappling with fewer customers and higher supplier costs. "Customer demand has shrunk quite substantially over the last couple of weeks ... there's an impact on what people are willing to spend," he explained. While some cost increases may be passed on, many hospitality and retail businesses operate on tight margins. However, Mr. Harford pointed to positives in Canberra's infrastructure, such as electric vehicle uptake, public transport, and diverse town centres, which may mitigate the impact compared to other Australian regions by reducing reliance on cars.
