Calculate your household carbon price on new interactive site

“Australians can be forgiven for feeling confused about what the carbon price will really mean for everyday items such as food and electricity,” said CHOICE spokesperson Matt Levey.

“This confusion also increases the risk of businesses passing on unrelated costs to consumers. That's why this research is so important, allowing households to work out costs and savings for themselves.”

The CSIRO-AECOM research shows impacts on households are likely to be smaller than anticipated. It calculates Australia's carbon pollution price will add 0.6 per cent to inflation in 2012-13. This is less of an impact on the economy than estimated by Treasury modelling, and may be even smaller as the modelling assumes a 100 per cent pass-through of costs by businesses to consumers.

“Communities are looking for real information about their day-to-day costs and savings,” said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

“For example, the carbon pollution price initially translates into two cents extra for bread and a litre of milk, 11 cents for a leg of lamb and 14 cents for a weekly spend on fruit and vegetables but once you factor in ongoing government assistance, those weekly costs are largely covered and most people end up with money in their pocket."

ACOSS, the peak body of the community services and welfare sector and a national voice for the needs of people affected by poverty and inequality, participated in the carbon pricing project to represent the interests of low-income households.

To read the full ‘The Carbon Price and the Cost of Living’ report or a summary visit the ACOSS website.

Calculate the impact the new laws that put a price on carbon pollution will have on your household at the interactive and very engaging Your Carbon Price website.