8101.0 - Innovation and Technology Update (Newsletter), Sep 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/09/2000   
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6. SPECIAL ARTICLES

6.1 Household expenditure on IT goods and services (unpublished data from the ABS Household Expenditure Survey)

In June 2000, the ABS released the first results from the 1998-99 Household Expenditure Survey (1998-99 Household Expenditure Survey, Australia: Summary of Results, ABS Catalogue no. 6530.0). Although the survey collected expenditure on computer-related goods and services, these data were not reported separately in this publication. The present article presents that information.

Over the 12 months to June 1999, Australian households spent an average of $284 on information technology goods and services. Households in the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory spent considerably more than the States, with an average of $542 and $502 respectively. For the States, the average amounts spent were Victoria $325, Western Australia $272, South Australia $266, Queensland $264, New South Wales $259 and Tasmania $244.

Household expenditure on information technology goods and services, Australia, 1998-99 (a)

$

Average Weekly Household Expenditure
Home computer equipment (including pre-packaged computer software)3.98
TV games and computer software1.08
Blank computer media0.11
On-line charges (Internet)0.28
Household expenditure on information technology goods and services5.45
Total household expenditure on recreation88.81


(a) The table includes selected categories from 'Recreation' and total 'Recreation'.


6.2 Price indexes for computer services

As part of ABS' commitment to provide more statistics on service industries, the Producer Price Indexes section is now producing a quarterly publication, Producer Price Indexes for Selected Service Industries (Catalogue 6423.0). The publication covers the Transport (Freight) and Storage division, and the Property and Business Services division of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC).

The indexes will improve the quality of national accounts by providing more deflators for deriving real measures of economic growth.

The following ANZSIC classes comprise the Computer Services sub-division (783):
  • Data processing services (7831),
  • Information storage and retrieval services (7832),
  • Computer maintenance services (7833),
  • Computer consultancy services (7834).

These classes as a total (Computer Services 783) contribute points to the Property and Business Services division index. For example, in June Quarter 2000, the Computer Services sub-division contributed 8.76 points towards the Property and Business Services division index of 107.95.

In June Quarter 2000, the most significant price movements occurred in:
  • Data processing services - an increase of 1.8% (due to wage increases),
  • Information storage and retrieval services - a decrease of 4.9% (due to productivity savings).

Computer service price indexes, Australia, June quarter 2000

Computer
services
783
Data processing services
7831
Information storage & retrieval services 7832Computer maintenance services
7833
Computer
consultancy
services
7834

1997-98na98.0nanana
1998-99100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0

1997
Marchnanananana
Junena96.6nanana
Septemberna97.4nanana
Decemberna97.597.8nana

1998
Marchna97.897.8nana
Junena99.398.2nana
September97.199.798.399.296.4
December97.899.1100.099.897.3

1999
March99.199.0100.4100.598.9
June106.1102.3101.3100.6107.5
September106.4103.8101.0100.5107.7
December108.2104.9100.4100.7109.9

2000
March108.6105.2100.0100.7110.4
June108.7107.195.1100.7110.5


Note: Service indexes are output indexes ie. the valuation basis is basic prices (amount received by the service provider exclusive of indirect taxes, and transport and trade margins).
Base of each index - 1998-99 = 100.0
na - not available




7. FOR MORE INFORMATION....

For more information, please contact one of the following people:

Director, Science & Technology Statistics:
Sheridan Roberts
Phone: (02) 6252 5019
email:
sheridan.roberts@abs.gov.au


Assistant Director, R&D and Biotechnology Statistics:
Derek Byars
Phone: (02) 6252 5627
email:
derek.byars@abs.gov.au


Assistant Director, Information Technology Activity Surveys:
John Ovington
Phone: (02) 6252 5189
email:
john.ovington@abs.gov.au


Assistant Director, Knowledge Economy and Society Indicators:
Liz Finlay
Phone: (02) 6252 5933
email: elizabeth.finlay@abs.gov.au


Assistant Director, Information Technology and Telecommunications Industry and Research:
Tim Power
Phone: (02) 6252 7895
email:
tim.power@abs.gov.au


Assistant Director outposted to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources:
Heather Olley
Phone: (02) 6213 7192
email:
Heather.Olley@isr.gov.au