MARCH KEY FIGURES

	Dec Qtr 07 to Mar Qtr 08	Mar Qtr 07 to Mar Qtr 08
STAGE OF PRODUCTION	% change	% change
Final (Stage 3) commodities (excl. exports)	1.9	4.8
Domestic	2.0	6.1
Imports	0.6	-3.8
Intermediate (Stage 2) commodities	2.0	6.0
Domestic	1.8	6.0
Imports	3.7	6.1
Preliminary (Stage 1) commodities	2.3	6.9
Domestic	2.0	6.2
Imports	4.9	12.4

Final Stage, Base: 1998-99 = 100.0

Final Stage, Quarterly % change

MARCH KEY POINTS


FINAL (STAGE 3) COMMODITIES

• increased by 1.9% in the March quarter 2008, the largest quarterly increase since the series began in the September quarter 1998.
• mainly due to price increases in building construction (+1.9%), petroleum refining (+10.5%) and electricity, gas and water (+3.1%).
• partially offset by price decreases in electronic equipment manufacturing (-2.9%).
• increased by 4.8% through the year to March quarter 2008.

INTERMEDIATE (STAGE 2) COMMODITIES

• increased by 2.0% in the March quarter 2008, the largest quarterly increase since the June quarter 2006.
• mainly due to price increases in petroleum refining (+12.3%), oil and gas extraction (+7.9%) and property operators and developers (+3.1%).
• partially offset by price decreases in metal ore mining (-1.0%).
• increased by 6.0% through the year to March quarter 2008.

PRELIMINARY (STAGE 1) COMMODITIES

• increased by 2.3% in the March quarter 2008, the largest quarterly increase since the June quarter 2006.
• mainly due to price increases in oil and gas extraction (+7.9%), petroleum refining (+12.2%), property operators and developers (+3.1%) and basic chemical manufacturing (+6.1%).
• partially offset by price decreases in metal ore mining (-1.1%).
• increased by 6.9% through the year to March quarter 2008.

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
June 2008	21 July 2008
September 2008	20 October 2008
December 2008	27 January 2009
March 2009	20 April 2009

ROUNDING

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


CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

The ABS last produced the Price Index of Materials Used in Building Other than House Building in June quarter 2004. As foreshadowed in the December quarter 2007 issue of this publication, from this quarter, the ABS has ceased publishing the table for Materials used in Building Other Than House Building Special Series, Index Numbers - Perth (Table 48). Historical versions of this and tables for the Price Index of Materials Used in Building Other than House Building (Tables 19 and 20) will continue to be available on the ABS Website in releases for previous quarters.

As a consequence, the table numbers in this publication have changed and a concordance is provided as an appendix at the end of this release. This appendix also details where to find the historical data for these tables.

Queries can be directed to Lee Taylor on Canberra (02) 6252 6251, or email <lee.taylor@abs.gov.au>.


DATA REFERENCES

Data referenced in the Key points and Commentary are available from the tables shown in this publication, or in the corresponding tables of this publication on the ABS website <https://www.abs.gov.au>.


RELATED STATISTICS

For more information about statistics in this publication contact Lee Taylor on Canberra (02) 6252 6251, or email <lee.taylor@abs.gov.au>.


INQUIRIES

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


SUMMARY COMMENTARY


COMMENTARY

Links to Other Parts of This Release

To access the "Commentary" data use this link

Commentary

To access the "Price Indexes and Contract Price Indexation" data use this link

Price Indexes and Contract Price Indexation