Measuring the economic well-being of Australian households: ABS (Media Release), 2009

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MEDIA RELEASE
July 17, 2009
Embargoed: 11.30 am (AEST)
48/2009

Measuring the economic well-being of Australian households: ABS

During 2009-10 the ABS is conducting its Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES).

The HIES, conducted every six years, is a very important survey supporting a wide range of uses by government and the community.

One critical use made of the HIES is to update the commodity weights used in compiling the Consumer Price Index. Without this information the capacity of the CPI to be used in monitoring inflation would be compromised. The survey is also critical to compiling the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index, used for indexing age and other pensions.

The HIES is also used for:
  • performance indicator reporting on the progress governments are making in addressing housing affordability and home ownership issues;
  • modelling undertaken by government and other analysts involved in the development, implementation and evaluation of social and economic policies;
  • analysing and monitoring both aggregate and distributional aspects of government policies, including the effects of all levels of taxation on the social and economic welfare of Australians;
  • planning services (health, housing, disability, child care, education, aged care, income support arrangements);
  • business planning, especially in the housing and retail sectors.

Some of the results from the 2003-04 HIES survey can be found in the following publications on the ABS website:
For more information about HIES participation in the HIES, see the Current Household Surveys: HES 2009-10 and SIH 2009-10 on the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>.

Media Note:

Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.