Editorial: Times are tough across the board

If you need any further sign that times are tough you need only look at some of this week's headlines.
There may be several new employment opportunities springing up in the region, and a new fast food restaurant with more than 50 part and fulltime jobs is opening on Monday, but, as we reported yesterday, out the door go 44 Rotorua Inland Revenue staff, as part of a wider cull of 191 positions.
Roles not requiring face-to-face contact with the public are going to be centralised in bigger centres.
Why?
Sure, the Government wants to make our tax dollars go further by finding efficiencies in its departments, but isn't it somewhat obliged not to strip the provinces of jobs?
Couldn't roles be centralised in smaller centres like Rotorua?
Yes, jobs would still be lost, but at least one provincial community would see some benefit.
In other headlines: milk prices have been a big discussion point.
Talk has been this week of inquiries, calls for further inquiries and calls for action on the the cost of milk.
When it comes to grocery staples, we're all interested because we're all affected. No one should be in a position where they consider milk a luxury item (though cheese has quickly become such a commodity).
But in more prosperous times, while the price of milk would still be an issue for some, it wouldn't command such a prominent spot on the news agenda.
Not such a staple, but also at the centre of a pricing debate this week is the new All Blacks jersey.
Adidas is trying to block cheap imports of the new jersey after it was revealed the World Cup versions on sale here for $220 could be bought for $104 from the United States.
No matter what the reason is for the discrepancy, fans here couldn't be blamed for shunning local retailers and eyeing the cheaper option.
And the finer details of why the same jersey should cost more here won't register with most, much like the guilt trip response from adidas that local retailers will suffer if consumers go for the cheaper option.
You have to wonder if the jerseys were priced closer to cost, would they sell a much higher number, in turn raking in more money?
It would be great to be able to support Kiwi retailers in these tough times, but knowing we're paying more than we have to makes it that much less of an option.