1308.8 - In fACT - Statistical Information on the ACT and Region, May 2010  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/05/2010   
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Contents >> Economy >> Consumer Price Index

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

Introduction

Change from previous year

Change from previous quarter

Information papers on topical issues relating to state and national accounts


Introduction

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a widely used economic indicator, that provides a general measure of changes in prices of consumer goods and services purchased by Australian households. Prices are measured in each of the eight state and territory capital cities. The CPI 'basket' is split into 11 major groups:

  • Food
  • Alcohol and tobacco
  • Clothing and footwear
  • Housing
  • Household contents and services
  • Health
  • Transportation
  • Communication
  • Recreation
  • Education
  • Financial and insurance services.

These groups contain the 90 expenditure classes, which in turn contain a selection of the individual items which are priced each quarter.

Further information about the CPI is contained in Australian Consumer Price Index: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2005 (cat. no. 6461.0).


Change from previous year

In the year to March 2010, the All Groups Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.6% for Canberra and 2.9% nationally (weighted average of the eight capital cities). In Canberra, the most significant price rise occurred in Health, up 5.4%. The most significant rise nationally was in Housing, up 6.1%. The most significant fall in Canberra occurred for Food, down 0.3% and nationally in Clothing and footwear, down 1.8%.

CPI GROUPS, Change from corresponding quarter of previous year - Mar Qtr 2010
Graph: Consumer Price Index Groups, Percentage change from corresponding quarter of previous year



Change from previous quarter

In the March quarter 2010 the All Groups CPI rose by 0.6% for Canberra, and 0.9% nationally (weighted average of eight capital cities). The most significant price rise in Canberra occurred in Health, up 4.9% and nationally in Education up 5.6%. The most significant fall for Canberra occurred for Recreation, down 2.0% in Canberra and nationally in Clothing and footwear, down 4.3% nationally.

CPI GROUPS, Change from previous quarter - Mar Qtr 2010
Graph: Consumer Price Index Groups, Percentage change from previous quarter


The largest contributor to the increase of 0.6% in the CPI for Canberra in March quarter 2010 was Health (+4.9%). Within the Health group, the key driver of the increase was the price for Pharmaceuticals, which rose by 13.1% in the quarter.

Consumer Price Index by Expenditure Class, Canberra - Health - Mar Qtr 10
Graph: Consumer Price Index by Expenditure Class, Canberra—Health—Mar Qtr 10





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