It seems the hits just keep on coming in this cost-of-living crisis.

Last month, there was bad news on power bills.

The Australian Energy Regulator confirmed South Coast residents are set to pay 25 per cent more for electricity. That means local households are on the hook for another $594 a year, just to keep the lights on.

Last week, there was more bad news on mortgages.

Commonwealth Bank boss Matt Comyn told a parliamentary hearing in Canberra that only 60 per cent of the impacts of recent rate hikes since last May have flowed on through the economy. In other words, there’s plenty of sting in the rate rise tail.

This week, there was more bad news – this time on the cost of essentials. 

Data from Coles – obtained by The Australian newspaper – shows shoppers are going without the things they need in a bid to save cash. Sales of hand sanitiser and soap is down almost 30 per cent, handwash is down 7 per cent, “environmentally friendly” cleaning products are down almost 16 per cent, and carpet cleaning products are down almost 11 per cent.

Put together, these numbers show people are really feeling the pinch.

You don’t need to be a PHD economist to see it’s getting harder and harder to come up with the cash to heat and eat, and keep a roof over your head.

Speaking of PHD economists, it’s been hard to miss the news this week about the departure of Reserve Bank Governor, Philip Lowe.

It's fair to say Dr Lowe has divided opinion.

There’s no doubt his ill-fated prediction that interest rates were going nowhere until 2024 will go down as one of the all-time clangers. There’s also no doubt the fact he was the public face of twelve successive rate rises didn’t do him any favours.

While Dr Lowe’s successor, Michelle Bullock, is primarily making headlines as the first woman appointed to lead the Bank, The Bugle is more interested in her regional roots.

Growing up in Armidale, she attended Armidale High School and the University of New England. Ms Bullock’s reign as RBA will be closely monitored and it is heartening to know that the head honcho is cognisant of the needs of workers and families outside the big cities.

We all know that Kiama is a great place to live, work and raise a family. But in order to continue our prosperous trajectory, we also need to grow. Our infrastructure is under constant strain but our population is growing at a remarkable rate.

We need to build more houses, better roads and more investment.

The Bugle hopes that the right balance between addressing the economic uncertainty of the present day does not compromise investment and economic prosperity in the near future.