6401.0 - Consumer Price Index, Australia, Dec 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/01/2006   
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PRICE INDEXES AND CONTRACT PRICE INDEXATION
1 ALL GROUPS, INDEX NUMBERS(A)
2 ALL GROUPS, PERCENTAGE CHANGES
CPI All GROUPS, WEIGHTED AVERAGE OF EIGHT CAPITAL CITIES, INDEX NUMBERS(a)


DECEMBER QUARTER KEY FIGURES

Sep Qtr 2005 to Dec Qtr 2005
Dec Qtr 2004 to Dec Qtr 2005
Weighted average of eight capital cities
% change
% change
Food
1.8
3.6
Alcohol and tobacco
0.5
3.3
Clothing and footwear
-0.2
-0.5
Housing
0.6
3.6
Household contents and services
0.7
0.9
Health
-1.1
4.2
Transportation
-0.5
3.9
Communication
-0.7
-2.0
Recreation
0.0
0.6
Education
0.1
6.3
Financial and insurance services
1.5
. .
All groups
0.5
2.8
All groups excluding Housing and Financial and insurance services
0.3
2.5
. . not applicable

All Groups, Quarterly change
Graph: All Groups, Quarterly change

Contribution to quarterly change, December quarter 2005
Graph: Contribution to quarterly change, December quarter 2005



DECEMBER QTR KEY POINTS


THE ALL GROUPS CPI

  • rose 0.5% in the December quarter 2005 compared with 0.9% in the September quarter.
  • rose 2.8% through the year to December quarter 2005.


OVERVIEW OF CPI MOVEMENTS
  • Contributing most to the overall increase this quarter were deposit and loan facilities (+2.3%), vegetables (+6.8%), domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+3.3%), house purchase (+0.8%), fruit (+5.8%), rents (+0.7%), take away and fast foods (+1.2%), other financial services (+0.8%), bread (+3.6%), tobacco (+0.6%), other household supplies (+1.3%) and other recreational activities (+1.8%).
  • Partially offsetting these increases were falls in audio, visual and computing equipment (-3.2%), pharmaceuticals (-4.6%), motor vehicles (-1.1%), overseas holiday travel and accommodation (-2.5%), automotive fuel (-0.9%) and telecommunication (-0.8%).


NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER) Release Date
March 2006 26 April 2006
June 2006 26 July 2006



CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

There are no changes in this issue.



ROUNDING

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



ABBREVIATIONS

ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics


CPI Consumer Price Index



INQUIRIES

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



ANALYSES AND COMMENTS


MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE


CPI GROUPS

Weighted average of eight capital cities, Percentage change from previous quarter
Graph: Weighted average of eight capital cities, Percentage change from previous quarter



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 prices was largely as a result of vegetables (+6.8%), fruit (+5.8%), take away and fast foods (+1.2%) and bread (+3.6%). Lamb and mutton (-2.5%) and food additives and condiments (-1.7%) provided minor offsetting price falls.


The rise in vegetable prices was due to adverse weather in major growing areas affecting supplies, particularly of potatoes, broccoli, onions and tomatoes. Poor weather also impacted on supplies of pears, apples and oranges, pushing fruit prices up overall.


Some respondents have indicated an increase in the cost of fuel affected prices for a number of food categories including milk, bread, restaurant meals and take away and fast foods.


Through the year to December quarter 2005, the food group rose 3.6%.



HOUSING (+0.6%)

Most categories of housing recorded price rises this quarter with house purchase (+0.8%), rents (+0.7%), electricity (+0.7%), water and sewerage (+2.0%) and house repairs and maintenance (+0.6%) contributing to the increase.


House purchase rose in all capital cities except Melbourne and Hobart, which were flat. The increases in the other capitals ranged from 0.3% in Sydney and Adelaide to 3.9% in Perth. Builders reported material costs and labour and tradesmen's costs as the main contributing factors. Rents rose in all capital cities, with the increases ranging from 0.3% in Melbourne to 1.6% in Brisbane.


Through the year to December quarter 2005, the housing group rose 3.6%.



FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE SERVICES (+1.5%)

All categories of financial and insurance services rose this quarter with deposit and loan facilities (+2.3%), other financial services (+0.8%) and insurance services (+0.8%) contributing to the increase.


The rise in deposit and loan facilities was due to increases in some banking charges, such as account keeping and transaction fees. The rise in other financial services was due to increased stamp duty payments on real estate transfers.



HOUSEHOLD CONTENTS AND SERVICES (+0.7%)

Most categories of household contents and services rose this quarter with other household supplies (+1.3%), toiletries and personal care products (+1.2%) and child care (+3.6%) being the most significant. The rises were partially offset by falls in glassware, tableware and household utensils (-2.2%) and major household appliances (-1.0%).


The net price rise in child care was due to increases in gross fees charged by child care providers to cover increases in wages and other running costs, and adjustments to income levels more than offsetting increases in the Child Care Benefit. The fall in glassware, tableware and household utensils and major household appliances was due to discounting at major retailers.


Through the year to December quarter 2005, the household contents and services group rose 0.9%.



TRANSPORTATION (-0.5%)

The fall in transportation was due to decreases in motor vehicles (-1.1%) and automotive fuel (-0.9%). These falls were partially offset by rises in motor vehicle repair and servicing (+0.6%), motor vehicle parts and accessories (+1.4%) and urban transport fares (+1.1%).


The fall in motor vehicles was mainly due to competitive pricing and drive-away offers on vehicle run-outs in order to clear stocks of 2005 plated vehicles.


Automotive fuel prices rose in July (+4.9%), August (+5.9%) and September (+9.1%) before falling in October (-3.6%), November (-6.2%) and December (-2.0%), resulting in a fall of 0.9% between the September and December quarters. The following graph shows the pattern of daily price behaviour for unleaded petrol for the eight capital cities over the last 15 months.


Diagram: Weighted average of eight capital cities, Percentage change from previous quarter

Through the year to December quarter 2005, the transportation group rose 3.9%.



HEALTH (-1.1%)

The fall in health costs was due to pharmaceuticals (-4.6%) and hospital and medical services (-0.2%). These falls were partially offset by rises in optical services (+1.3%) and dental services (+0.7%).


The fall in the net cost of pharmaceuticals was a direct result of the cyclical effect of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme safety net. The small fall in hospital and medical services was due to increased bulk billing ratios for some services and the negative impact on out-of-hospital medical expenses of the Medicare Plus Safety Net more than offsetting general increases for a number of medical practitioners' fees and hospital charges.


Through the year to December quarter 2005, the health group rose 4.2%.



ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO (+0.5%)

The rise in alcohol and tobacco this quarter was due to tobacco (+0.6%), spirits (+1.0%) and beer (+0.5%).


The rise in tobacco prices was mainly due to a residual of the increase in Federal excise and customs duty from 1 August, together with the end of some discounting. Increases in both bar service and bottle shop prices accounted for the increase in spirits.


Through the year to December quarter 2005, the alcohol and tobacco group rose 3.3%.



TRADABLES AND NON-TRADABLES

The non-tradables component (see table 8) of the CPI rose 0.8% in the December quarter. This component includes goods and services whose prices are largely determined by domestic price pressures and represents approximately 58% of the weight of the CPI. Within non-tradables, the goods component rose 1.0%, mainly due to house purchase, take away and fast foods and bread. The non-tradables services component rose 0.8% with deposit and loan facilities, domestic holiday travel and accommodation, rents and other financial services being the main contributors. Falls in telecommunication provided the most significant offset.


The tradables component, which includes goods and services whose prices are largely determined on the world market was flat in the December quarter. The largest positive contributors were vegetables, fruit, tobacco and other household supplies. The largest negative contributors were audio, visual and computing equipment, pharmaceuticals motor vehicles, overseas holiday travel and accommodation and automotive fuel.


Through the year to December quarter 2005, non-tradables rose 3.5% and tradables rose 2.0%. This compares with rises of 3.4% and 2.6%, respectively, for these components through the year to September quarter 2005.



CAPITAL CITIES COMPARISON


ALL GROUPS

All Groups: Percentage change from previous quarter
Graph: All Groups: Percentage change from previous quarter



At the All groups level, the CPI rose in all capital cities in the December quarter 2005, with the increases ranging from 0.3% in Sydney to 0.8% in Brisbane, Perth and Canberra. Canberra recorded the largest rises in food, household contents and services and financial and insurance services. Perth had the largest increase in housing costs, at almost four times the weighted average of eight capital cities. Brisbane recorded increases above the weighted average of eight capital cities in food, alcohol and tobacco, housing, household contents and services and recreation.


Sydney recorded movements that were below the weighted average of eight capital cities in a number of categories including alcohol and tobacco, clothing, transportation and financial and insurance services.


Through the year to December quarter 2005, the All groups CPI rose in each of the eight capital cities and ranged from 2.5% in Sydney to 4.0% in Perth. The higher result for Perth was largely due to a 9.3% increase in housing, more than double the weighted average of eight capital cities increase of 3.6%. The rise in Perth's housing costs was largely attributable to a 16.0% increase in new house purchase prices through the year.

CPI, All groups index numbers and percentage changes
Index number(a)
Percentage change
Dec Qtr 2005
Sep Qtr 2005 to Dec Qtr 2005
Dec Qtr 2004 to Dec Qtr 2005
Sydney
151.0
0.3
2.5
Melbourne
149.2
0.4
2.7
Brisbane
152.1
0.8
2.8
Adelaide
154.1
0.5
2.7
Perth
149.0
0.8
4.0
Hobart
151.0
0.6
2.9
Darwin
145.4
0.5
3.0
Canberra
150.9
0.8
3.1
Weighted average of eight capital cities
150.6
0.5
2.8
(a) Base of each index: 1989-90 = 100.0.


SELECTED TABLES FROM CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, AUSTRALIA (CAT. NO. 6401.0)


1 ALL GROUPS, INDEX NUMBERS(A)



ALL GROUPS, Index numbers(a)
Period
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Adelaide
Perth
Hobart
Darwin
Canberra
Weighted average of eight capital cities
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
2003-04
144.1
142.8
144.8
147.0
139.6
142.6
138.7
143.4
143.5
2004-05
147.7
145.7
148.5
150.4
144.0
147.1
141.8
146.7
147.0
2001
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
2004
March
145.0
143.5
145.4
147.7
139.6
143.0
139.0
143.9
144.1
June
145.5
143.9
146.3
148.6
141.0
144.3
139.6
144.8
144.8
September
146.2
144.2
146.8
149.0
142.0
145.0
140.8
145.5
145.4
December
147.3
145.3
148.0
150.0
143.3
146.7
141.1
146.3
146.5
2005
March
148.2
146.4
149.2
150.9
144.4
148.0
141.9
147.0
147.5
June
149.0
146.9
150.0
151.8
146.3
148.8
143.2
147.8
148.4
September
150.5
148.6
150.9
153.4
147.8
150.1
144.7
149.7
149.8
December
151.0
149.2
152.1
154.1
149.0
151.0
145.4
150.9
150.6
(a) Base of each index: 1989-90 = 100.0.


2 ALL GROUPS, PERCENTAGE CHANGES




ALL GROUPS, Percentage changes
Period
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Adelaide
Perth
Hobart
Darwin
Canberra
Weighted average of eight capital cities
Percentage Change (from previous financial year)
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
2003-04
2.1
2.2
2.9
3.0
2.0
2.5
1.4
2.6
2.4
2004-05
2.5
2.0
2.6
2.3
3.2
3.2
2.2
2.3
2.4
Percentage Change (from corresponding quarter of previous year)
2001
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
2004
March
2.0
1.8
2.5
2.1
1.6
2.1
1.1
2.3
2.0
June
2.3
2.1
3.2
3.0
2.6
2.5
1.2
2.9
2.5
September
2.7
1.7
2.4
2.5
2.5
2.8
2.2
2.5
2.3
December
2.6
2.3
2.6
2.6
2.9
3.3
1.9
2.4
2.6
2005
March
2.2
2.0
2.6
2.2
3.4
3.5
2.1
2.2
2.4
June
2.4
2.1
2.5
2.2
3.8
3.1
2.6
2.1
2.5
September
2.9
3.1
2.8
3.0
4.1
3.5
2.8
2.9
3.0
December
2.5
2.7
2.8
2.7
4.0
2.9
3.0
3.1
2.8

Percentage Change (from previous quarter)
2001
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
2004
March
1.0
1.0
0.8
1.0
0.3
0.7
0.4
0.7
0.9
June
0.3
0.3
0.6
0.6
1.0
0.9
0.4
0.6
0.5
September
0.5
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.7
0.5
0.9
0.5
0.4
December
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.9
1.2
0.2
0.5
0.8
2005
March
0.6
0.8
0.8
0.6
0.8
0.9
0.6
0.5
0.7
June
0.5
0.3
0.5
0.6
1.3
0.5
0.9
0.5
0.6
September
1.0
1.2
0.6
1.1
1.0
0.9
1.0
1.3
0.9
December
0.3
0.4
0.8
0.5
0.8
0.6
0.5
0.8
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
2004
144.1
144.8
145.4
146.5
2005
147.5
148.4
149.8
150.6
(a) Base of each index:1989-90 = 100.0