ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY


MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

In the March quarter 2012, the prices paid by manufacturers for material inputs fell 1.1%, while the prices received for outputs rose 0.1%. Through the year to the March quarter 2012, prices of material inputs rose 1.7%, while the prices received for outputs rose 0.3%.

Falls in the prices paid for products from metal ore mining (-3.4%), primary metal to metal production manufacturing (-1.8%), food product manufacturing (-3.6%), transport equipment manufacturing (-2.4%) and coal mining (-4.5%) drove the decrease in the cost of materials used in the manufacturing industries. Major contributors to these price falls were gold, silver and zinc ores, iron ore, alumina, unassembled motor vehicles and black coal. Partly offsetting these falls were rises in the prices paid for oil and gas extraction (+1.2%).

Rises in the prices received for other basic non-ferrous metal product manufacturing (+7.9%) and other basic non-ferrous metal manufacturing (+1.5%) drove the increase in the prices received for produced articles primary to the manufacturing industries. Major contributors to these price rises were copper and alloy products and precious metal and nickel recovery. Partly offsetting these rises were falls in the prices received for sugar manufacturing (-13.7%), alumina production (-11.5%) and confectionary manufacturing (-6.4%).

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

MATERIALS USED IN HOUSE BUILDING

The price index of materials used in house building fell 0.1% in the March quarter 2012. This follows a rise of 0.1% in the December quarter 2011. The most significant contributors this quarter were falls in prices paid for other metal products (-0.9%), concrete, cement and sand (-1.9%), timber, board and joinery (-0.3%) and plumbing products (-0.8%). Partly offsetting these falls were rises in the prices paid for ceramic products (+1.2%) and other materials (+0.6%).

Melbourne (-0.2%) and Sydney (-0.3%) fell in the March quarter 2012, with Brisbane, Perth and Hobart recording no change. Adelaide (+0.7%) was the only capital city to show an increase.

Through the year to the March quarter 2012, the materials used in house building price index rose 1.3%. This rise was mainly attributed to increases in the prices paid for clay bricks (+4.5%), in-situ concrete (+6.7%) and paint & other coatings (+6.8%).

DIVISION E, SUBDIVISION 30 - BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND CLASS 3101 ROAD AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

Division E, Subdivision 30 - Building construction fell 0.2% and Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 1.3% for the March quarter 2012.

Subdivision 30 - Building construction was driven by falls in the prices received for Class 3019 - Other residential building construction (-0.3%) which was mainly influenced by Victoria (-1.2%) and Class 3020 - Non-residential building construction (-0.5%) which was mainly influenced by Victoria (-1.9%). Class 3011 - House construction showed no change.

Through the year to the March quarter 2012, the price index of Subdivision 30 - Building construction rose 0.8% driven by increases in the prices received for Class 3020 - Non-residential building construction (+1.3%), Class 3019 - Other residential building construction (+1.0%), and Class 3011 - House construction (+0.4%).

The price index for Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 1.3% for the March quarter 2012 which was mainly driven by increases in the prices received for Victoria (+1.7%) and Queensland (+1.3%).

Through the year to the March quarter 2012, Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 6.3%.

SERVICE INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

DIVISION I - TRANSPORT, POSTAL AND WAREHOUSING

Division I - Transport, postal and warehousing recorded rises for the March quarter 2012 in the prices received for Group 471 - Rail freight transport (+3.2%), Group 461 - Road freight transport (+1.0%) and Group 530 - Warehousing and storage services (+1.0%). Partly offsetting these rises were falls in prices received for Group 481 - Water freight transport (-2.0%).


DIVISION J - INFORMATION MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Division J - Information media and telecommunications recorded falls for the March quarter 2012 in the prices received for Group 541 - Newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishing (-0.6%) (driven by Class 5411 - Newspaper publishing (-0.9%)). Partly offsetting these falls were rises in the prices received for Group 592 - Data processing, web hosting and electronic information storage (+0.1%) (driven by Class 5921 - Data processing and web hosting services (+1.6%)).


DIVISION L - RENTAL, HIRING AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES

Division L - Rental, hiring and real estate services recorded rises for the March quarter 2012 in the prices received for Class 6712 - Non-residential property operators (+0.7%). Partly offsetting these rises were falls in the prices received for Group 672 - Real estate services (-0.5%).


DIVISION M - PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

Division M - Professional, scientific and technical services recorded rises for the March quarter 2012 in the prices received for Group 691 - Scientific research services (+2.0%), Group 695 - Market research and statistical services (+2.0%), Group 700 - Computer system design and related services (+1.7%) and Group 693 - Legal and accounting services (+0.4%) (driven by Class 6932 - Accounting services (+0.9%)).


DIVISION N - ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Division N - Administrative and support services recorded rises for the March quarter 2012 in the prices received for Group 731 - Building cleaning, pest control and gardening services (+0.7%) (driven by Class 7312 - Building pest control services (+6.1%)), Group 729 - Other administrative services (+0.4%) (driven by Class 7299 - Other administrative services n.e.c. (+1.2%) and Class 7292 - Document preparation services (+0.7%)) and Group 721 - Employment services (+0.1%) (driven by Class 7211 - Employment placement and recruitment services (+0.9%) and Class 7212 - Labour supply services (+0.1%)).


DIVISION O - PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY

Division O - Public administration and safety recorded rises for the March quarter 2012 in the prices received for Class 7712 - Investigation and security services (+0.5%).


DIVISION S - OTHER SERVICES

Division S - Other services recorded rises for the March quarter 2012 in the prices received for Class 9533 - Parking services (+1.1%).