CAPITAL CITIES COMPARISON


ALL GROUPS CPI

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was flat (0.0%) this quarter in original terms and rose 0.1% in seasonally adjusted terms. Annually the CPI rose 1.3%.

Main Positive Contributors:

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages is the most significant positive contributor to the CPI this quarter, with rises in all eight capital cities. Drought and adverse weather conditions affected the supply of fruits and vegetables, with price rises in all cities.
• Education rose in all capital cities due to fees rising at the start of the school year. Increases in education ranged from Adelaide (+1.9%) to Sydney (+3.4%) and Canberra (+3.4%).
• Health rose in all capital cities due to the cyclical reduction in the proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Main Negative Contributors:

• Recreation and culture is the most significant negative contributor to the CPI this quarter, with falls in all capital cities due to domestic holiday, travel and accommodation and international holiday, travel and accommodation. The fall in international holiday, travel and accommodation is due to the winter off-peak seasons in Europe and America.
• Transport fell due to the lower world oil price resulting in a fall in automotive fuel. Automotive fuel fell in all capital cities this quarter, ranging from Adelaide (-7.8%) to Darwin (-14.3%).

All Groups CPI, All groups index numbers and percentage changes
	Index number(a)	Percentage change
	Mar Qtr 2019	Dec Qtr 2018 to Mar Qtr 2019	Mar Qtr 2018 to Mar Qtr 2019
Sydney	115.1	-0.1	1.3
Melbourne	114.7	0.1	1.2
Brisbane	114.1	0.1	1.5
Adelaide	113.1	0.1	1.3
Perth	111.2	-0.1	1.1
Hobart	113.4	-0.2	2.1
Darwin	110.1	-0.8	0.4
Canberra	113.2	0.1	1.8
Weighted average of eight capital cities	114.1	0.0	1.3
(a) Index reference period: 2011-12 = 100.0.

SYDNEY (-0.1%)

The main contributors to the fall in Sydney are automotive fuel (-8.6%), domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (-4.5%) and international holiday, travel and accommodation (-2.6%). Rents (-0.2%) also fell this quarter due to higher vacancy rates reflecting an increase in the supply of rental properties. The fall is partially offset by rises in vegetables (+9.1%), secondary education (+5.6%) and motor vehicles (+3.0%).


MELBOURNE (+0.1%)

The main contributors to the rise in Melbourne this quarter are vegetables (+7.5%), secondary education (+4.0%) and motor vehicles (+2.5%). The rise is partially offset by falls in automotive fuel (-9.1%) and new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (-1.2%). The fall in new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers is due to increased competition as demand declines in the detached dwellings market.


BRISBANE (+0.1%)

The main contributors to the rise in Brisbane are vegetables (+8.1%), motor vehicles (+2.2%) and medical and hospital services (+1.8%). The rise is partially offset by falls in automotive fuel (-8.1%), domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (-6.0%) and international holiday, travel and accommodation (-2.0%).


ADELAIDE (+0.1%)

The main contributors to the rise in Adelaide this quarter are vegetables (+6.1%), pharmaceutical products (+4.2%) and fruit (+3.7%). The rise is partially offset by falls in automotive fuel (-7.8%) and domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (-3.1%).


PERTH (-0.1%)

The main contributors to the fall in Perth this quarter are automotive fuel (-8.8%) and domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (-5.5%). The fall is partially offset by rises in medical and hospital services (+1.4%), pharmaceutical products (+5.2%), vegetables (+4.8%) and secondary education (+2.6%).


HOBART (-0.2%)

The main contributors to the fall in Hobart this quarter are automotive fuel (-10.2%) and domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (-3.4%). The fall is partially offset by rises in rents (+1.6%), pharmaceutical products (+6.5%) and vegetables (+4.5%).


DARWIN (-0.8%)

The main contributors to the fall in Darwin this quarter are automotive fuel (-14.3%) and domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (-11.2%). The fall is partially offset by rises in vegetables (+7.5%), pharmaceutical products (+5.0%) and other financial services (+1.6%). The fall in domestic holiday, travel and accommodation is due to the low tourist season in Darwin.


CANBERRA (+0.1%)

The main contributors to the rise in Canberra this quarter are vegetables (+8.4%), medical and hospital services (+2.2%) and secondary education (+4.6%). The rise is partially offset by falls in automotive fuel (-9.4%) and domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (-4.1%).