6401.0 - Consumer Price Index, Australia, Sep 2008 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/10/2008   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

CAPITAL CITIES COMPARISON



ALL GROUPS

All Groups: Percentage change from previous quarter
Graph: All Groups: Percentage change from previous quarter


At the All groups level, the CPI rose in all capital cities this quarter. Darwin rose 1.7%, Canberra rose 1.5%, Brisbane rose 1.4%, Adelaide rose 1.3%, Melbourne rose 1.2%, Sydney and Hobart rose 1.1%, while Perth rose 1.0%.

At the expenditure group level, housing was the most significant contributor in all cities. Food prices rose in all cities and were the second most important contributor in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Sydney and Hobart. In Brisbane the second most important contributor was transportation. In Darwin it was recreation, while in Perth it was alcohol and tobacco. Financial and insurance services was a significant contributor in all cities except Darwin.

Rents and house purchase were significant contributors in all cities. Water and sewerage prices rose strongly in all cities except Brisbane and Darwin. Deposit and loan facilities contributed strongly in all cities, while automotive fuel contributed strongly in all cities except Canberra and Perth.

The higher result for Darwin was mainly due to increases in prices for domestic holiday travel and accommodation. The lower result for Perth was mainly due to smaller than average contributions from automotive fuel and the fact that there was no change in electricity prices where most other cities showed significant rises.

Over the year to September quarter 2008, the All groups CPI rose in all capital cities with the increases ranging from 4.3% in Hobart to 5.6% in Brisbane. The higher result in Brisbane is largely due to stronger than average rises in housing, transportation and household contents and services.

CPI, All groups index numbers and percentage changes

Index number(a)
Percentage change
Sep Qtr 2008
Jun Qtr 2008 to Sep Qtr 2008
Sep Qtr 2007 to Sep Qtr 2008

Sydney
165.9
1.1
4.9
Melbourne
164.4
1.2
4.8
Brisbane
170.8
1.4
5.6
Adelaide
169.8
1.3
5.1
Perth
166.7
1.0
4.9
Hobart
164.7
1.1
4.3
Darwin
163.6
1.7
4.5
Canberra
167.5
1.5
5.2
Weighted average of eight capital cities
166.5
1.2
5.0

(a) Base of each index: 1989-90 = 100.0.