Inflation: Economist Brad Olsen expects another big OCR jump after latest inflation figures

Prices keep going up - inflation has hit a 32-year high with housing, food and fuel costs pushing the annual rate to 7.3 percent.

That's up from 6.9 percent and higher than most economists expected. ANZ is now predicting the OCR will rise to 4 percent in November and that'll drag mortgage rates up with it. 

Economists are also worried about price rises spreading through more and more items, with 66 percent of all items monitored increasing in price in the June quarter.

The thing about quiche, custard tarts and eclairs is you can't make them without eggs, dairy and flour. You also can't deliver the treats without petrol. 

The price of the key elements of AroBake - ingredients and petrol - are the key drivers of inflation.

"Prices are going up and if you're not always watching, all of a sudden, your margins disappear," said Maximilian Fuhrer of Arobake. 

"We added a dollar onto the delivery costs from $6.50 to $7.50 just cause, it's just been a huge jump."

StatsNZ, the Government's records keeper, on Monday confirmed what everyone's been feeling: inflation is up 7.3 percent. 

"Right around the world, people are feeling the effects and that's happening here in New Zealand," said Finance Minister Grant Robertson.

Inflation has become seemingly almost inescapable.

"It's not just one thing here and there, it's a lot of prices that are continuing to rise. That broad-based inflation is the sort of worry that we have when the Reserve Bank is trying to get things under control," said Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen. 

That means debt will likely get even more expensive. To stifle inflation, the Reserve Bank has one tool - the Official Cash Rate. Olsen is predicting it will climb another 50 basis points. 

"It's got a job to do. It knows what it has to do but it is very uncomfortable."

ACT wants the Reserve Bank Governor to curb inflation, or else.

"Adrian Orr has been asked to get inflation under control in the 'medium term', well he needs to be held accountable," said Seymour. 

National just wants some accountability - full stop.

"The Government continues to throw up its hands, point at overseas factors and tell Kiwis they just need to put up with surging prices," said the party's finance spokesperson Nicola Willis. 

Robertson said the Government has stepped in to support Kiwis. 

"In fact, the fuel excise duty cut has meant that inflation's lower than it otherwise would have been."

The Finance Minister on Sunday spent almost a billion bucks to keep half-price public transport and the 25-cent petrol tax cut, which has been helping. 

"I do three days in the car and two days on the bus or whatever," said one Kiwi. 

"We are certainly conscious of which car we take or whether we take a car or how we get to places," said another. 

But could petrol be cheaper?

"I've never seen such a high level of oil company margin," said AA principal policy advisor Terry Collins. 

Reports to the Government showing petrol importers' margins are spiking.

"I know that some of the oil companies have dropped it by 10 cents, I think they could drop it easily another 10 cents," said Collins.

Robertson said Energy and Resources Minister Megan Wood has written to petrol companies asking for an explanation. 

For the Kiwis counting every dollar, even 10 cents would help.