PRICE INDEXES


CONTENTS

Consumer price index

Wage price index

House price index


CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The all groups consumer price index (CPI) for Adelaide remained virtually unchanged during the March quarter 2009, while the weighted average of the eight capital cities increased by 0.1% during that quarter. Adelaide's CPI increased by 2.3% in the year ending March quarter 2009, compared with a 2.5% rise in the weighted average of the eight capital cities.

Adelaide's largest percentage increases in prices from the previous quarter were in the areas of Education (5.8%), Health (2.7%) and Food (2.1%). The largest decreases in prices from the previous quarter were for Financial and insurance services (-5.7%) and Clothing and footwear (-3.6%).

WAGE PRICE INDEX

The wage price index for all employee jobs in South Australia increased by 0.7% (in original terms) from the December quarter 2008 to the March quarter 2009. This was the same as the increase nationally (0.7%) over this period.

HOUSE PRICE INDEX

Preliminary estimates show that the price index for established houses for Adelaide (in original terms) decreased 0.8% in the March quarter 2009. The only cities in which the House Price Index increased between the December quarter 2008 and the March quarter 2009 were Darwin (2.2%), Canberra (0.5%) and Hobart (0.1%). The price index for the weighted average of the eight capital cities decreased by 2.2% over this period.

Over the year to the March quarter 2009, the preliminary estimates show the price index for established houses for Adelaide fell 1.9%, while the weighted average of the eight capital cities decreased 6.7%.