Key Figures
 |
| Dec Qtr 2003 to Mar Qtr 2004 | Mar Qtr 03 to Mar Qtr 04 | |
| % change | % change | |
| |
| Import Price Index all groups | -4.1 | -14.6 | |
| Food and live animals | -2.1 | -9.1 | |
| Beverages and tobacco | -0.5 | -4.9 | |
| Crude materials | -5.2 | -13.0 | |
| Mineral fuels, etc. | -4.7 | -24.2 | |
| Animal and vegetable oils, etc. | -0.3 | -5.5 | |
| Chemicals and related products | -1.6 | -7.5 | |
| Manufactured goods by material | -3.0 | -10.8 | |
| Machinery and transport equipment | -4.9 | -15.4 | |
| Miscellaneous manufactured articles | -5.3 | -17.0 | |
| Commodities and transactions n.e.s. | -2.4 | -10.2 | |
| Export Price Index all groups | 0.0 | -12.0 | |
| Food and live animals | 1.0 | -9.5 | |
| Beverages and tobacco | -0.2 | -14.8 | |
| Crude materials | 1.3 | -12.0 | |
| Mineral fuels, etc. | -5.5 | -22.3 | |
| Chemicals and related products | 9.4 | -0.4 | |
| Manufactured goods by material | 5.2 | -2.9 | |
| Machinery and transport equipment | -3.2 | -13.5 | |
| Miscellaneous manufactured articles | -2.4 | -14.7 | |
| |
IMPORT PRICE INDEX: all groups, Quarterly % change
| EXPORT PRICE INDEX: all groups, Quarterly % change
|
Key Points
Import Price Index
- The Import Price Index fell by 4.1 % in the March quarter 2004 to its lowest level since June quarter 1997. The decrease was predominantly driven by the appreciation of the Australian dollar against most major currencies. Falls were registered for prices of most commodities, with machinery and transport equipment, miscellaneous manufactured articles and petroleum and related products being the major contributors. There were no significant offsetting price increases.
Export Price Index
- The Export Price Index was unchanged in the March quarter 2004, following four consecutive quarters of negative movement. The nil movement this quarter is due to increases in a number of world commodity prices, offset by the appreciation of the Australian dollar against most major currencies. The main commodities registering price falls were coal, iron ores and petroleum gases. The most significant price increases were observed for alumina, pharmaceutical products and copper ores.
Notes
Changes in this issue
The ABS has adopted a new methodology for imputing missing prices in the International Trade Price Indexes. Rather than carrying forward the previously observed price (so that no movement is imputed), from March quarter 2004 missing prices are imputed based on price movements of similar commodities. This change has been introduced to bring the ITPI imputation methods into line with international recommendations.
Rounding
Any discrepancies between totals and sums of components in this publication are due to rounding.
Related statistics
For more information about statistics in this publication and about other 'ABS data available on request', contact Steve Whennan on 02 6252 6251, or email <steve.whennan@abs.gov.au>.
Abbreviations
| ABS | Australian Bureau of Statistics |
| ADP | automatic data processing |
| AHECC | Australian Harmonised Export Commodity Classification |
| ANZSIC | Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification |
| BEC | Classification by Broad Economic Categories |
| c.i.f. | cost, insurance and freight |
| f.o.b. | free on board |
| HTISC | Harmonized Tariff Item Statistical Classification |
| n.e.c. | not elsewhere classified |
| n.e.s. | not elsewhere specified |
| SITC | Standard International Trade Classification |
Inquiries
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Steve Whennan on Canberra 6252 6251.
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