MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE


CPI GROUPS

The discussion of the CPI groups below is ordered in terms of their absolute significance to the change in All groups index points for the quarter (see Tables 6 and 7). Unless otherwise stated, the analysis is in original terms.

FOOD AND NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES GROUP (+1.7%)

The main contributors to the rise in the food and non-alcoholic beverages group this quarter are fruit (+19.5%) and vegetables (+5.9%). The rise in fruit and vegetable prices is due to adverse weather conditions, including floods, in major growing areas, impacting supply.

Over the last twelve months, the food and non-alcoholic beverages group rose 1.5%. The main contributor to the rise is vegetables (+11.9%).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the food and non-alcoholic beverages group recorded a rise of 1.2%. The main contributor to the rise is fruit (+7.9%).


HOUSING GROUP (+1.0%)

The main contributors to the rise in the housing group this quarter are electricity (+5.4%) and property rates and charges (+4.0%). The rise in electricity is driven by increases in wholesale electricity costs across the eastern and southern states.

Over the last twelve months, the housing group rose 1.8%. The main contributor to the rise is new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (+1.6%).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the housing group rose 0.1% this quarter. The main contributor to the rise is electricity (+1.8%).


ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO GROUP (+1.1%)

The main contributors to the rise in the alcohol and tobacco group this quarter are tobacco (+2.3%) and beer (+0.8%).The rise in tobacco is mainly due to the effects of the federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2016.

Over the last twelve months, the alcohol and tobacco group rose 5.7%. The main contributor to the rise is tobacco (+13.1%).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the alcohol and tobacco group rose 1.4% this quarter. The main contributor to the rise is tobacco (+3.0%).


FURNISHINGS, HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES GROUP (+1.1%)

The main contributors to the rise in the furnishings, household equipment and services group this quarter are childcare (+3.6%) and household textiles (+5.9%).

Over the last twelve months, the furnishings, household equipment and services group rose 1.9%. The main contributor to the rise is child care (+7.9%).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the furnishings, household equipment and services group rose 0.6% this quarter.


COMMUNICATION GROUP (-2.3%)

The main contributor to the fall in the communication group this quarter is telecommunication equipment and services (-2.5%).

Over the last twelve months, the communication group fell 7.5%. The main contributor to the fall is telecommunication equipment and services (-7.9%).

The communication group is not seasonally adjusted.


RECREATION AND CULTURE GROUP (+0.6%)

The main contributor to the rise in the recreation and culture group this quarter is international holiday travel and accommodation (+1.9%). The rise in international travel and accommodation is typical of the summer peak seasons in Europe and America.

Over the last twelve months, the recreation and culture group rose 0.6%. The main contributors to the rise are international holiday travel and accommodation (+2.5%) and other recreational, sporting and cultural services (+3.5%). This is partially offset by a fall in audio, visual and computing equipment (-8.9%).

In the CPI, airfares are collected in advance (at the time of payment), but are only used in the CPI in the quarter in which the trip is undertaken. International airfares are collected two months in advance (July for travel in September) and domestic airfares are collected one month in advance (August for travel in September).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the recreation and culture group fell 0.2% this quarter. The main contributor to the fall is international holiday travel and accommodation (-1.9%).


TRANSPORT GROUP (-0.5%)

The main contributor to the fall in the transport group this quarter is automotive fuel (-2.9%). Automotive fuel fell in July (-5.5%) and August (-5.3%), and rose in September (+4.7%). All fuel types recorded decreases this quarter with the exception of diesel. The fall is partially offset by a rise in other services in respect of motor vehicles (+1.5%).

The following graph shows the pattern of the average daily prices for unleaded petrol for the eight capital cities over the last fifteen months.

Over the last twelve months, the transport group fell 3.4%. The main contributor to the fall is automotive fuel (-12.6%). This is partially offset by a rise in other services in respect of motor vehicles (+1.8%).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the transport group fell 0.8% this quarter. The main contributor to the fall is automotive fuel (-2.9%).


INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP (+0.9%)

The main contributor to the rise in the insurance and financial services group this quarter is insurance (+2.5%).

Over the last twelve months, the insurance and financial services group rose 2.9%. The main contributor to the rise is insurance (+7.8%).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the insurance and financial services group rose 0.8% this quarter. The main contributor to the rise is insurance (+2.3%).


HEALTH GROUP (-0.2%)

The main contributor to the fall in the health group this quarter is pharmaceutical products (-0.9%). The fall is due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) safety net.

Over the last twelve months, the health group rose 3.9%. The main contributor to the rise is medical and hospital services (+5.4%).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the health group rose 0.8% this quarter. The main contributor to the rise is medical and hospital services (+1.2%).


CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR GROUP (+0.3%)

The main contributor to the rise in the clothing and footwear group this quarter is accessories (+5.7%).

Over the last twelve months, the clothing and footwear group rose 1.2%. The main contributor to the rise is accessories (+6.5%).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the clothing and footwear group recorded no movement this quarter.


EDUCATION GROUP (+0.2%)

The main contributor to the rise in the education group this quarter is tertiary education (+0.2%).

Over the last twelve months, the education group rose 3.3%. The main contributor to the rise is secondary education (+4.6%).

In seasonally adjusted terms, the education group rose 1.4% this quarter. The main contributors to the rise are tertiary education (+1.4%) and secondary education (+1.3%).


INTERNATIONAL TRADE EXPOSURE - TRADABLES AND NON-TRADABLES

The tradables component (see Table 8) of the All groups CPI rose 1.0% this quarter. Price changes for the goods and services in this component are largely determined on the world market. The tradables component represents approximately 40% of the weight of the CPI. The most significant contributor to the 0.9% rise in the tradable goods component is fruit (+19.5%). The most significant offsetting fall in the tradable goods component is automotive fuel (-2.9%). The rise in the tradable services component of 1.9% is driven by international holiday travel and accommodation (+1.9%).

The non-tradables component of the All groups CPI rose 0.5% this quarter. Price changes for the goods and services in this component are largely determined by domestic price pressures. The non-tradables component represents approximately 60% of the weight of the CPI. The most significant contributor to the 0.8% rise in the non-tradable goods component is electricity (+5.4%). The rise in the non-tradable services component of 0.4% is driven by property rates and charges (+4.0%). The most significant offsetting fall in the non-tradable services component is telecommunication equipment and services (-2.5%).

Over the last twelve months, the tradables component rose 0.7%, while the non-tradables component rose 1.7%. This compares to no movement and a rise of 1.6% respectively over the twelve months to the previous quarter.

In seasonally adjusted terms, the tradables component of the All groups CPI rose 0.4% this quarter, while the non-tradables component rose 0.4%.

A detailed description of which expenditure classes are classified as tradable and non-tradable in the 16th series is shown in Appendix 1 of the September quarter 2011 issue of Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no 6401.0).


SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ANALYTICAL SERIES

The All groups CPI seasonally adjusted rose 0.4% this quarter, compared to the original All groups CPI which recorded a rise of 0.7%.

The trimmed mean rose 0.4% this quarter, compared to a rise of 0.5% in the June quarter 2016. Over the last twelve months, the trimmed mean rose 1.7%, compared to a rise of 1.7% over the twelve months to the June quarter 2016.

The weighted median rose 0.3% this quarter, compared to a revised rise of 0.5% in the June quarter 2016. Over the last twelve months, the weighted median rose 1.3%, compared to a revised rise of 1.5% over the twelve months to the June quarter 2016.

		ORIGINAL	SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
		Jun Qtr 2016 to Sep Qtr 2016	Jun Qtr 2016 to Sep Qtr 2016
		%	%
All groups CPI		0.7	0.4
Food and non-alcoholic beverages		1.7	1.2
Alcohol and tobacco		1.1	1.4
Clothing and footwear		0.3	0.0
Housing		1.0	0.1
Furnishings, household equipment and services		1.1	0.6
Health		-0.2	0.8
Transport		-0.5	-0.8
Communication(a)		-2.3	-2.3
Recreation and culture		0.6	-0.2
Education		0.2	1.4
Insurance and financial services		0.9	0.8
International trade exposure series
	Tradables	1.0	0.4
	Non-tradables	0.5	0.4
(a) not seasonally adjusted

A detailed explanation of the seasonal adjustment of the All Groups CPI and calculation of the trimmed mean and weighted median measures is available in Information Paper: Seasonal Adjustment of Consumer Price Indexes, 2011 (cat. no. 6401.0.55.003) available on the ABS website. Revisions to the seasonally adjusted estimates can be the result of the application of concurrent seasonal adjustment, described in paragraph 15 of the Explanatory Notes.