6401.0 - Consumer Price Index, Australia, Dec 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/01/2004   
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Links to:
1 ALL GROUPS, Index Numbers(a)
2 ALL GROUPS, Percentage Changes
CPI All Groups, Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities, Index Numbers(a)


DECEMBER QTR KEY FIGURES

% change
% change
Sep Qtr 2003 to
Dec Qtr 2002
Weighted average of eight capital cities
Dec Qtr 2003
Dec Qtr 2003
Food
1.8
3.4
Alcohol and tobacco
0.6
4.4
Clothing and footwear
-0.2
-0.8
Housing
0.6
4.7
Household furnishings, supplies and services
-0.1
-0.2
Health
0.2
6.9
Transportation
-0.4
0.3
Communication
0.2
1.4
Recreation
0.8
-0.6
Education
0.0
4.8
Miscellaneous
0.0
2.4
All groups
0.5
2.4
All groups excluding Housing
0.5
1.8


Graph - All Groups Quarterly change
Graph - Contribution to quarterly change December quarter 2003


DECEMBER QTR KEY POINTS


THE ALL GROUPS CPI
  • rose 0.5% in the December quarter 2003, compared with 0.6% in the September quarter 2003.
  • rose 2.4% between the December quarters 2002 and 2003.


OVERVIEW OF CPI MOVEMENTS
  • contributing most to the overall increase this quarter were rises in the cost of domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+6.6%), fruit (+12.4%), vegetables (+9.1%), house purchase (+1.0%), hospital and medical services (+1.3%), rents (+0.8%), beer (+1.4%), take away and fast foods (+1.2%) and restaurant meals (+1.1%).
  • partially offsetting these increases were falls in the cost of audio, visual and computing equipment (-5.5%), pharmaceuticals (-3.9%), automotive fuel (-0.9%), motor vehicles (-0.8%) and bread (-3.3%).
  • contributing most to the annual increase were rises in the cost of house purchase (+6.4%), hospital and medical services (+9.1%), beer (+6.9%), take away and fast foods (+4.6%), tobacco (+4.6%), rents (+2.3%), electricity (+5.1%), property rates and charges (+6.1%) and domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+3.2%). Partially offsetting these increases were falls in the cost of audio, visual and computing equipment (-21.3%), motor vehicles (-2.6%) and overseas holiday travel and accommodation (-2.3%).


NOTES

CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

There are no changes in this issue.


CHILD CARE COSTS IN THE DECEMBER QUARTER 2003

The zero change in the Child care index this quarter incorporates an adjustment to compensate for an overestimation of the price increase recorded in the September quarter 2003. Darwin and Canberra are the capital cities most affected. At the weighted average of eight capital cities level, the impact on the Child care index is small, while the All groups index is not affected. This treatment accords with internationally accepted standards for compiling CPIs. The treatment means that while the quarterly movements for Child care costs for September and December quarters 2003 are inaccurate, the movements between the June and December quarters 2003 are correct.


ROUNDING

Any discrepancies between totals and sums of components in this publication are due to rounding.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact Steve Whennan on Canberra 02 6252 6251 , or the National Information Service on 1300 135 070.


ANALYSES AND COMMENTS

CPI GROUPS, WEIGHTED AVERAGE OF EIGHT CAPITAL CITIES: PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS QUARTER
Graph - CPI GROUPS, WEIGHTED AVERAGE OF EIGHT CAPITAL CITIES: PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS QUARTER


MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE

The discussion of the CPI groups below is ordered in terms of their significance to the change in All groups index points (see Tables 6 and 7).


FOOD (+1.8%)

The rise in food costs this quarter was mainly attributable to an increase in the price of fruit (+12.4%), vegetables (+9.1%), take away and fast foods (+1.2%), restaurant meals (+1.1%), poultry (+5.0%) and pork (+5.4%). These increases were partially offset by price falls in a number of food categories with bread (-3.3%) being the most significant.

Over the twelve months to December quarter 2003, food costs rose 3.4%.


HOUSING (+0.6%)

The rise in housing costs this quarter was mainly due to an increase in house purchase (+1.0%) and rents (+0.8%). Partially offsetting these increases was a fall in gas and other household fuels (-1.8%).

Over the twelve months to December quarter 2003, housing costs rose 4.7%


RECREATION (+0.8%)

The rise in the cost of recreation this quarter was mainly due to an increase in domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+6.6%). Partially offsetting these increases were falls in audio, visual and computing equipment (-5.5%), toys, games and hobbies (-3.4%) and pets, pet food and supplies (-3.4%).

Over the twelve months to December quarter 2003, the cost of recreation fell 0.6%.


TRANSPORTATION (-0.4%)

The fall in transportation costs this quarter was due to decreases in the price of automotive fuel (-0.9%), motor vehicles (-0.8%) and motor vehicle repair and servicing (-0.1%). Petrol prices rose in July (+2.9%) and August (+4.0%), but fell in September (-0.5%), October (-1.5%), November (-0.2%) and December (-0.9%). These decreases were partially offset by increases in motor vehicle parts and accessories (+0.8%) and other motoring charges (+0.6%).

Over the twelve months to December quarter 2003, transportation costs rose 0.3%.


ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO (+0.6%)

The rise in the cost of alcohol and tobacco this quarter was due to increases in the price of beer (+1.4%), tobacco (+0.6%) and wine (+0.1%).

Over the twelve months to December quarter 2003, the cost of alcohol and tobacco rose 4.4%.


CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR (-0.2%)

The fall in the cost of clothing and footwear this quarter was due to decreases in the price of clothing accessories and jewellery (-2.1%), men's outerwear (-0.6%), women's outerwear (-0.3%) and men's footwear (-2.8%). Partially offsetting these decreases were increases in women's underwear, nightwear and hosiery (+1.7%), children's and infants' clothing (+0.3%), women's footwear (+1.1%) and children's footwear (+1.4%).

Over the twelve months to December quarter 2003, the cost of clothing and footwear fell 0.8%.


HEALTH (+0.2%)

The rise in health costs this quarter was due to increases in hospital and medical services (+1.3%) and dental services (+1.3%). These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the net cost of pharmaceuticals (-3.9%), mainly due to the increased effect of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme safety net in the December quarter.

Over the twelve months to December quarter 2003, health costs rose 6.9%.


CAPITAL CITIES COMPARISON
ALL GROUPS: PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS QUARTER

Graph - ALL GROUPS: PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS QUARTER





At the All groups level, the December quarter 2003 CPI rose in all capital cities. The increases ranged from 0.2% in Melbourne to 0.8% in Sydney. The low result in Melbourne was largely due to that city recording a decrease in housing costs during the quarter, driven by falls in the cost of gas and other household fuels and house purchase, compared with an increase in each of the other capital cities.

Over the twelve months to December quarter 2003, the All groups CPI rose in each of the eight capital cities. The increases ranged from 1.7% in Darwin to 3.3% in Adelaide.
CPI, All groups index numbers(a) and percentage changes
INDEX NUMBER(a)
PERCENTAGE CHANGE BETWEEN
Sep Qtr 2003 and
Dec Qtr 2002 and
Dec Qtr 2003
Dec Qtr 2003
Dec Qtr 2003
Sydney
143.6
0.8
2.3
Melbourne
142.1
0.2
2.2
Brisbane
144.2
0.6
3.1
Adelaide
146.2
0.6
3.3
Perth
139.2
0.4
2.1
Hobart
142.0
0.6
2.9
Darwin
138.5
0.5
1.7
Canberra
142.9
0.7
2.7
Weighted average of eight
capital cities
142.8
0.5
2.4
(a) Base of each index: 1989-90 = 100

SELECTED TABLES FROM CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, AUSTRALIA (CAT. NO. 6401.0)
1 ALL GROUPS, Index Numbers(a)
Weighted
average of
eight capital
Period
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Adelaide
Perth
Hobart
Darwin
Canberra
cities
1999-2000
125.4
124.1
125.0
126.3
122.9
124.8
124.2
124.2
124.7
2000-01
133.2
131.6
132.4
133.5
129.6
132.0
130.9
131.9
132.2
2001-02
137.2
135.3
136.3
137.2
133.1
134.7
133.7
135.2
136.0
2002-03
141.1
139.7
140.7
142.7
136.8
139.1
136.8
139.7
140.2

1999
December
124.7
123.5
124.1
125.7
122.7
124.0
123.6
123.7
124.1
2000
March
125.8
124.7
125.5
126.8
123.1
125.3
124.4
124.9
125.2
June
127.0
125.6
126.4
127.6
124.0
126.5
125.7
125.9
126.2
September
131.6
130.4
131.3
132.3
128.6
131.3
130.0
130.7
130.9
December
132.2
130.8
131.6
132.5
128.8
131.2
130.6
131.1
131.3
2001
March
134.0
132.2
132.7
134.1
129.6
132.1
130.7
132.2
132.7
June
135.0
133.0
134.0
135.1
131.4
133.4
132.2
133.4
133.8
September
135.4
133.6
134.2
135.3
131.5
132.8
132.5
133.2
134.2
December
136.6
134.8
135.8
136.6
132.6
133.9
133.5
134.9
135.4
2002
March
137.9
136.0
137.1
137.7
133.7
135.2
133.8
135.6
136.6
June
138.8
136.9
138.1
139.1
134.6
137.0
135.0
137.2
137.6
September
139.6
137.8
139.2
140.3
135.8
137.5
135.4
138.1
138.5
December
140.4
139.0
139.9
141.5
136.4
138.0
136.2
139.2
139.5
2003
March
142.1
140.9
141.8
144.6
137.4
140.0
137.5
140.7
141.3
June
142.2
140.9
141.8
144.3
137.4
140.8
137.9
140.7
141.3
September
142.4
141.8
143.3
145.4
138.6
141.1
137.8
141.9
142.1
December
143.6
142.1
144.2
146.2
139.2
142.0
138.5
142.9
142.8
(a) Base of each index: 1989-90 = 100.0
2 ALL GROUPS, Percentage Changes
Weighted
average of
eight capital
Period
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Adelaide
Perth
Hobart
Darwin
Canberra
cities
PERCENTAGE CHANGE (from previous financial year)
1999-2000
2.4
2.6
1.7
2.5
2.3
1.9
1.5
2.2
2.4
2000-01
6.2
6.0
5.9
5.7
5.5
5.8
5.4
6.2
6.0
2001-02
3.0
2.8
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.0
2.1
2.5
2.9
2002-03
2.8
3.3
3.2
4.0
2.8
3.3
2.3
3.3
3.1
.
PERCENTAGE CHANGE (from corresponding quarter of previous year)
1999
December
1.9
2.2
0.9
1.7
2.1
1.1
0.7
1.6
1.8
2000
March
2.6
3.1
2.2
3.3
2.8
2.6
1.9
2.9
2.8
June
3.3
3.4
2.7
3.2
2.6
3.3
2.4
3.6
3.2
September
6.0
6.3
5.9
5.8
5.5
6.5
5.8
6.8
6.1
December
6.0
5.9
6.0
5.4
5.0
5.8
5.7
6.0
5.8
2001
March
6.5
6.0
5.7
5.8
5.3
5.4
5.1
5.8
6.0
June
6.3
5.9
6.0
5.9
6.0
5.5
5.2
6.0
6.0
September
2.9
2.5
2.2
2.3
2.3
1.1
1.9
1.9
2.5
December
3.3
3.1
3.2
3.1
3.0
2.1
2.2
2.9
3.1
2002
March
2.9
2.9
3.3
2.7
3.2
2.3
2.4
2.6
2.9
June
2.8
2.9
3.1
3.0
2.4
2.7
2.1
2.8
2.8
September
3.1
3.1
3.7
3.7
3.3
3.5
2.2
3.7
3.2
December
2.8
3.1
3.0
3.6
2.9
3.1
2.0
3.2
3.0
2003
March
3.0
3.6
3.4
5.0
2.8
3.6
2.8
3.8
3.4
June
2.4
2.9
2.7
3.7
2.1
2.8
2.1
2.6
2.7
September
2.0
2.9
2.9
3.6
2.1
2.6
1.8
2.8
2.6
December
2.3
2.2
3.1
3.3
2.1
2.9
1.7
2.7
2.4
PERCENTAGE CHANGE (from previous quarter)
1999
December
0.5
0.7
0.1
0.5
0.7
0.6
0.6
1.1
0.6
2000
March
0.9
1.0
1.1
0.9
0.3
1.0
0.6
1.0
0.9
June
1.0
0.7
0.7
0.6
0.7
1.0
1.0
0.8
0.8
September
3.6
3.8
3.9
3.7
3.7
3.8
3.4
3.8
3.7
December
0.5
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
-0.1
0.5
0.3
0.3
2001
March
1.4
1.1
0.8
1.2
0.6
0.7
0.1
0.8
1.1
June
0.7
0.6
1.0
0.7
1.4
1.0
1.1
0.9
0.8
September
0.3
0.5
0.1
0.1
0.1
-0.4
0.2
-0.1
0.3
December
0.9
0.9
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.8
1.3
0.9
2002
March
1.0
0.9
1.0
0.8
0.8
1.0
0.2
0.5
0.9
June
0.7
0.7
0.7
1.0
0.7
1.3
0.9
1.2
0.7
September
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
0.9
0.4
0.3
0.7
0.7
December
0.6
0.9
0.5
0.9
0.4
0.4
0.6
0.8
0.7
2003
March
1.2
1.4
1.4
2.2
0.7
1.4
1.0
1.1
1.3
June
0.1
0.0
0.0
-0.2
0.0
0.6
0.3
0.0
0.0
September
0.1
0.6
1.1
0.8
0.9
0.2
-0.1
0.9
0.6
December
0.8
0.2
0.6
0.6
0.4
0.6
0.5
0.7
0.5


LONGER TERM SERIES:
CPI All Groups, Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities, Index Numbers(a)
Quarter ending
Year
31 March
30 June
30 September
31 December
1985
68.1
69.7
71.3
72.7
1986
74.4
75.6
77.6
79.8
1987
81.4
82.6
84.0
85.5
1988
87.0
88.5
90.2
92.0
1989
92.9
95.2
97.4
99.2
1990
100.9
102.5
103.3
106.0
1991
105.8
106.0
106.6
107.6
1992
107.6
107.3
107.4
107.9
1993
108.9
109.3
109.8
110.0
1994
110.4
111.2
111.9
112.8
1995
114.7
116.2
117.6
118.5
1996
119.0
119.8
120.1
120.3
1997
120.5
120.2
119.7
120.0
1998
120.3
121.0
121.3
121.9
1999
121.8
122.3
123.4
124.1
2000
125.2
126.2
130.9
131.3
2001
132.7
133.8
134.2
135.4
2002
136.6
137.6
138.5
139.5
2003
141.3
141.3
142.1
142.8
(a) Base of each index:1989-90 = 100.0