The rising price of food, housing and construction are pushing up the rate of inflation, to 4.9 percent year on year.

But there are concerns many people's wages are not keeping up with those rising costs.

New research from Consumer NZ shows about 500,000 New Zealanders have no savings and are living pay cheque to pay cheque.

Otago University researcher at He Kainga Oranga, Housing and Health Research Programme, Dr Kimberley O'Sullivan talks to Māni Dunlop.