ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY


MINING INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

INPUT TO THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY

Input to the Coal mining industry fell 0.4% in the December quarter 2013. This follows a rise of 2.8% in the September quarter 2013. Through the year to the December quarter 2013, the Input to the Coal mining industry index rose 1.9%.

The most significant contributor this quarter were falls in the prices paid for distillate.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

In the December quarter 2013, the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index fell 0.6%, while the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index rose 0.2%. Through the year to the December quarter 2013, the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index rose 0.7%, while the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index rose 2.1%.

Major contributors to the fall in the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index were falls in the prices paid for inputs from the metal ore mining (-4.0%), agriculture (-1.6%) and basic chemical and chemical product manufacturing (-1.7%) industries. Products contributing to these falls were gold bullion, milk and other inorganic chemicals. Partly offsetting these falls were rises in the prices paid for inputs from the food product manufacturing (+3.0%) industry.

Major contributors to the rise in the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index were rises in the prices received for outputs of the meat processing (+5.5%) and oil and fat manufacturing (+16.1%) industries. Products contributing to these rises were beef, veal and margarine. Partly offsetting these rises were falls in the prices received for outputs of the petrol refining and petrol fuel manufacturing (-3.2%) industry.

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

INPUT TO THE HOUSE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The price index of the Input to the House construction industry rose 0.3% in the December quarter 2013. This follows a rise of 0.1% in the September quarter 2013. The most significant contributors this quarter were rises in prices paid for timber, board and joinery (+0.7%) and plumbing products (+1.1%). These rises were partially offset by a fall in electrical equipment (-0.9%).

Sydney (+0.8%), Brisbane (+0.8%), Perth (+0.2%), Adelaide (+0.5%) and Hobart (+0.6%) rose in the December quarter 2013 with Melbourne recording no change.

Through the year to the December quarter 2013, the Input to the House construction industry price index rose 0.7%. This rise was mainly attributed to increases in the prices paid for timber, board and joinery (+1.8%) and plumbing products (+2.2%).

OUTPUT OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES

Output of the construction industries, Subdivision 30 - Building construction rose 0.3% and Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 1.0% for the December quarter 2013.

Subdivision 30 - Building construction was driven by rises in the prices received for Class 3011 - House construction which rose 0.9%, which was driven by Western Australia (+1.5%) and Victoria (+0.8%). Class 3019 - Other residential building construction and Class 3020 - Non-residential building construction recorded no change over the December quarter 2013.

Through the year to the December quarter 2013, the price index of Subdivision 30 - Building construction rose 2.0% driven by increases in the prices received for Class 3011 - House construction (+4.3%) and Class 3020 - Non-residential building construction (+0.5%).

The price index for Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 1.0% for the December quarter 2013, which was driven by increases in the prices received for New South Wales (+1.5%) and Western Australia (+1.9%).

Through the year to the December quarter 2013, the Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 2.8%.

SERVICES INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

OUTPUT OF THE ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Accommodation and food services industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2013 in the prices received for Group 440 - Accommodation (+4.0%) and Group 451 - Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (+0.6%).


OUTPUT OF THE TRANSPORT, POSTAL AND WAREHOUSING INDUSTRIES

Output of the Transport, postal and warehousing industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2013 in the prices received for Group 461 - Road freight transport services (+0.9%), Group 510 - Postage and Courier pick-up and delivery services (+2.6%) and Group 490 - Air & Space transport services (+1.0%). Partly offsetting these rises were falls in the prices received for Group 471 - Rail freight transport (-2.3%).


OUTPUT OF THE INFORMATION MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRIES

Output of the Information media and telecommunications industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2013 in the prices received for Group 541 - Newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishing (+0.9%) (driven by Class 5411 - Newspaper publishing (+1.2%) and Class 5412 - Magazine and other periodical publishing (+0.4%)) and Group 592 - Data processing, web hosting and electronic information storage services (+0.1%) (driven by Class 5922 - Electronic information storage services (+0.5%)).


OUTPUT OF THE RENTAL, HIRING AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Rental, hiring and real estate services industries recorded falls for the December quarter 2013 in the prices received for Group 663 - Other goods and equipment rental and hiring (-1.0%), Class 6712 - Non-residential property operators (-0.4%) and Group 661 - Motor vehicle and transport equipment rental and hiring (-0.3%). Partly offsetting these falls were rises in the prices received for Group 672 - Real estate services (+1.7%).


OUTPUT OF THE PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Professional, scientific and technical services industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2013 in the prices received for Group 700 - Computer system design and related services (+1.6%), Group 693 - Legal and accounting services (+1.0%) (driven by Class 6932 - Accounting services (+2.0%)), Group 692 -Architectural, engineering and technical services (+0.7%) (driven by Class 6923 - Engineering design and engineering consulting services (+0.7%), Class 6921 - Architectural services (+0.9%), Class 6924 - Other specialised design services (+1.2%), and Class 6922 - Surveying and mapping services (+0.2%)), Group 697 - Veterinary services (+0.5%) and Class 6962 - Management advice and related consulting services (+0.2%).


OUTPUT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Administrative and support services industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2013 in the prices received for Group 731 - Building cleaning, pest control and gardening services (+0.6%) (driven by Class 7311 - Building and other industrial cleaning services (+0.9%)).


OUTPUT OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY INDUSTRIES

Output of the Public administration and safety industries recorded falls for the December quarter 2013 in the prices received for Class 7712 - Investigation and security services (-0.5%).


OUTPUT OF THE OTHER SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Other services industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2013 in the prices received for Class 9533 - Parking services (+1.1%).