The cost of living in Canberra is rising faster than nearly every other capital city in Australia, new Australian Bureau of Statistics show.
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The capital's Consumer Price Index has risen by 3.7 per cent in the past 12 months, putting Canberra in joint second place with Sydney as the city with the fastest growing living costs.
Only Adelaide, where CPI grew by 4 per cent since last year's September quarter, experienced a greater rise.
The ABS cited rents in Canberra and Sydney as key drivers of rising average housing costs.
In the past 12 months, ACT householders have had to battle a 5.8 per cent increase in rents, utilities bills were up 6.9 per cent and water and sewerage charges soared by 12 per cent, and petrol prices skyrocketed by more than 14per cent, according to the bureau.
But there was some good news, with below-national-average increases in electricity prices of 5.3per cent and rates and charges on their properties of 4.2 per cent.
The Canberra Liberals were quick to seize on the figures, with leader Zed Seselja blaming ACT Labor for the CPI increases
''Under ACT Labor, Canberrans are being taxed more than ever before and are faced with such high basic living costs that many struggle to pay their bills,'' he said.
''The Canberra Liberals understand the cost of living pressures affecting Canberrans.
''In Opposition, we've pushed for cost of living statements with every government policy, which ACT Labor refuses to do.''
Mr Seselja said he would be unveiling policies in the next 12 months that would help to ease cost-of-living burdens on households.
''In government, our policies will focus on improving core services and lowering the cost of living, giving the ACT the best local government in the country.''
But Treasurer and Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr hit back, saying that increases in prices need to be looked at in the context of income increases and greater service provision.
''Wages have grown by 44 per cent since 2001, which is 2 per cent higher than the national average, and the State of the States report shows the ACT is the second strongest economy of all states and territories, behind Western Australia,'' Mr Barr said.
''The ACT also continues to record the highest average weekly earnings in the country, around 14.8 per cent higher than the national average.''
Mr Barr pointed to his party's record on electricity prices. ''As indicated by the ICRC in its 2011-12 electricity price determination, an average annual [ACT] household electricity bill is around $1418. This is more than $1000 less than a typical Queanbeyan bill of approximately $2484.
''The Government recognises that increases in utility costs and other prices have a disproportionate impact on low income families, and that is why the ACT Labor Government provides a range of concessions to eligible community members, to assist with such cost pressures.''