TV3 NZ - Rising fuel costs force trucking companies to pass on costs

Trucking companies are among those being hit hard by rising fuel costs, costs which they have to try to pass on to their customers.

ABC - UN suspends aid to Gaza over fuel blockade

The United Nations says its humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip is grinding to a halt because of Israel's continuing fuel blockade.

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"This is their means of survival. There's no economy here anymore. This is a further pressure on them."

ABC - Caltex chief tips oil to reach $US200

The CEO of Australia's largest oil refiner says he expects the price of oil will reach $US200 a barrel.

Heral Sun - Wings clipped by fuel costs

THE worsening fuel crisis is cutting deep into airline profits with Air New Zealand joining Virgin Blue and a host of carriers internationally to slash earnings forecasts.

Guide2 NZ - OCR Left Unchanged Despite Economy Slowing Faster Than Expected

Wellington, April 24 NZPA - Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has left the official cash rate (OCR) unchanged at 8.25 percent, as widely predicted, while acknowledging the economy has slowed faster than he expected.

While today's announcement leaves the OCR at the same level it has been at since last July, Dr Bollard's comments may have given embattled householders, struggling under the pressures of high mortgage rates, some hope that the start of cuts to the official interest rate are at least coming into view.

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In his announcement today, Dr Bollard said that economic activity had "weakened more markedly than expected" in the Reserve Bank's March Monetary Policy Statement.

But he also pointed to the impact of repeated increases in food and energy prices which, he said, played a large part in short term inflation being likely to remain persistently high.

Newstalk ZB - Light rail mooted as transport option

Wellington City Council is being urged to take a serious look at new transport options for the city as petrol prices continue to rise.

Public transport advocate Brent Efford says the council needs to use the high prices to its advantage, by introducing a state of the art light rail system.

Gizmag - Sustainable holidays: renewable energy and solar-powered houseboats on the Mississippi

Ecologically responsible tourism is becoming big business around the world, particularly with young backpackers who wish to see the glory of nature without contributing to its destruction. The same concept is now starting to trickle through to resort and leisure tourism - such as this block of condos on the Mississippi in Iowa. Using recycled materials, renewable energy and a small fleet of solar-powered houseboats that contribute solar and wind turbine energy back into the grid when they're moored, the Holiday Shores Condo-Tel development will provide 64 suites for the environmentally conscious.