Qantas hopes 350 - or five per cent - of its cabin crew will take up voluntary redundancy.

The road toll is at its lowest in more than 30 years - and high fuel prices are partly responsible.

A family of five could save $250 a week by making small adjustments to driving, supermarket shopping and power usage.

Soaring petrol prices were a key factor behind a 0.8 per cent rise in the consumers' price index (CPI) in the March quarter.

The pressure on ruling powers to hand out more goodies to the people will ultimately have to be paid for.

Higher fuel prices are likely to mean lower profit margins and lower real wages.

Supermarket chain says rising oil prices particularly affect suppliers who package goods in plastic.

In the high-stakes game of oil exploration New Zealand is frontier country.

Air New Zealand is to increase fares for all flights from March 18 because of rising fuel costs.

Air New Zealand has announced it is upping its domestic and international air fares due to the rising cost of jet fuel, following a similar move by Qantas this morning.

Qantas has announced that its international fuel surcharges will increase again next week.

Petrol prices have risen sharply overnight, nearing record highs.