JUNE KEY FIGURES
| Weighted average of eight capital cities | Mar Qtr 2010 to Jun Qtr 2010 % change | Jun Qtr 2009 to Jun Qtr 2010 % change |
|
| Food | -0.5 | 1.1 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 8.2 | 10.7 |
| Clothing and footwear | -0.3 | -3.9 |
| Housing | 0.3 | 7.1 |
| Household contents and services | 0.9 | 0.2 |
| Health | 1.4 | 4.2 |
| Transportation | 1.1 | 4.5 |
| Communication | 0.0 | -0.1 |
| Recreation | -1.4 | -0.1 |
| Education | 0.0 | 5.4 |
| Financial and insurance services | 2.9 | 11.3 |
| All groups | 1.0 | 3.8 |
|
PBLCI - All Groups, Quarterly change
| PBLCI - All Groups, Contribution to quarterly change - June quarter 2010
|
JUNE KEY POINTS
THE ALL GROUPS PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY LIVING COST INDEX (PBLCI)
- rose 1.0% for the June quarter 2010, compared with a rise of 1.2% in the March quarter 2010.
- showed a larger increase for the June quarter 2010 (+1.0%) than the CPI (+0.6%).
- rose 3.8% through the year to June quarter 2010, compared to a through the year rise of 2.9% to March quarter 2010.
- showed a larger increase through the year to June quarter 2010 than the CPI (+3.1%).
OVERVIEW OF PBLCI MOVEMENTS
- The most significant price rises this quarter were for alcohol and tobacco (+8.2%) and financial and insurance services (+2.9%).
- The most significant offsetting price falls this quarter were for recreation (-1.4%) and food (-0.5%).
NOTES
FORTHCOMING ISSUES
| ISSUE (QUARTER) | Release Date |
| September 2010 | 15 November 2010 |
| December 2010 | 14 February 2011 |
| March 2011 | 16 May 2011 |
| June 2011 | 15 August 2011 |
ROUNDING
Any discrepancies between totals and sums of components in this publication are due to rounding.
INDEX NUMBERS USE REFERENCE BASE OF JUNE QUARTER 2007 = 100.0
To allow comparison of the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index with other ABS price indexes, all index numbers in this publication use a reference base of June quarter 2007 = 100.0. However, percentage changes used in this publication for the Consumer Price Index are as published in
Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6401.0). The percentage changes for Analytical Living Cost Indexes used in this publication are as published in
Analytical Living Cost Indexes for Selected Australian Household Types (cat. no. 6463.0).
INQUIRIES
For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
SUMMARY COMMENTARY
THE PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY LIVING COST INDEX
The Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI) has been designed to answer the question:
'By how much would after tax money incomes need to change to allow age pensioners and other households whose principal source of income is government benefits to purchase the same quantity of consumer goods and services that they purchased in the base period?'
The PBLCI has been derived by combining the age pensioner Analytical Living Cost Index (ALCI) and the other government transfer recipient ALCI. Living cost indexes are intended to measure the impact of changes in prices on the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by these particular household types.
In the June quarter 2010 the PBLCI increased by 1.0%. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.6% over the same period.
Since the PBLCI series began in June quarter 2007 it has risen 11.2%, compared to 9.3% for the CPI. Differences have occurred for a number of reasons that relate to factors that affect the component series used to compile the PBLCI. The inclusion of mortgage interest and consumer credit charges and the different treatments of housing and insurance in the PBLCI result in variations between the PBLCI and the CPI series. The expenditure patterns of age pensioner and other government transfer recipient households differ from those of the overall household sector covered by the CPI. This also contributes to differences in the percentage changes.
For more information on the relationship between the PBLCI, CPI and the ALCIs, see the Explanatory Notes.
MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE
The PBLCI increased 1.0% for the June quarter 2010. Alcohol and tobacco (+8.2%) made the greatest contribution to the quarterly rise due to increases in the excise tax for tobacco. Financial and insurance services (+2.9%) also recorded increases for the quarter as a result of rises in interest charges.
The most significant offsets were provided by recreation (-1.4%) and food (-0.5%) due to falls in holiday travel and accommodation and fruit and vegetables.
The major contributors to the difference between the PBLCI (+1.0%) and the CPI (+0.6%) in the June quarter were tobacco, holiday travel and accommodation and interest charges. Rises for tobacco, for which PBLCI households have a significantly higher proportion of expenditure, recorded strong increases for the June quarter. PBLCI households also have a relatively lower proportion of expenditure attributed to holiday travel and accommodation than the wider CPI population group, which recorded a strong fall for the quarter. The rise in interest charges this quarter also contributed to the difference due to interest charges being excluded from the CPI.
GRAPHS
Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index and CPI, All groups
- Percentage change from previous quarter
Comparison of PBLCI and CPI Indexes
Comparison of PBLCI and Analytical Living Cost Indexes
Table 1: Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index, All Groups, Weighted average of eight capital cities - index numbers, percentage change and points change |
|
 | | | Percentage change | Points change |
| Quarters | Index Numbers(a) | From previous quarter | From corresponding quarter of previous year | From previous quarter | From corresponding quarter of previous year |
|
| 2007 | | | | | |
| September | 100.9 | 0.9 | . . | 0.9 | . . |
| December | 101.7 | 0.8 | . . | 0.8 | . . |
| 2008 | | | | | |
| March | 103.4 | 1.6 | . . | 1.7 | . . |
| June | 104.7 | 1.3 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 4.7 |
| September | 106.1 | 1.3 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 5.2 |
| December | 106.0 | -0.1 | 4.2 | -0.1 | 4.3 |
| 2009 | | | | | |
| March | 107.0 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 3.6 |
| June | 107.1 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| September | 108.2 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.1 |
| December | 108.8 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 2.8 |
| 2010 | | | | | |
| March | 110.1 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 3.1 |
| June | 111.2 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 4.1 |
|
| . . not applicable |
| (a) Reference base of index: June quarter 2007 = 100.0. |
Table 2: Percentage change in analytical living cost indexes, PBLCI and CPI, by commodity group - March quarter 2010 to June quarter 2010 |
|
| Commodity group | Age pensioner | Other government transfer recipient | PBLCI | CPI |
|
| Food | -0.7 | -0.5 | -0.5 | -0.3 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 5.7 | 9.3 | 8.2 | 5.9 |
| Clothing and footwear | -0.6 | -0.1 | -0.3 | 0.0 |
| Housing(a) | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| Household contents and services | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| Health | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 2.2 |
| Transportation | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.7 |
| Communication | -0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.1 |
| Recreation | -1.6 | -1.3 | -1.4 | -1.8 |
| Education | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Financial and insurance services(b) | 1.4 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 0.2 |
| All groups | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
|
| (a) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the population subgroup indexes |
| (b) Includes interest charges and general insurance. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis |
Table 3: Points contribution to quarterly change, March quarter 2010 to June quarter 2010 - index points |
|
| Commodity group | Age pensioner ALCI(a) | Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a) | PBLCI(b) | CPI(a) |
|
| Food | -0.18 | -0.11 | -0.13 | -0.05 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 0.46 | 1.06 | 0.81 | 0.46 |
| Clothing and footwear | -0.03 | 0.00 | -0.01 | 0.00 |
| Housing(c) | 0.00 | 0.13 | 0.08 | 0.13 |
| Household contents and services | 0.10 | 0.09 | 0.10 | 0.08 |
| Health | 0.14 | 0.04 | 0.08 | 0.12 |
| Transportation | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.10 |
| Communication | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Recreation | -0.19 | -0.11 | -0.15 | -0.20 |
| Education | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Financial and insurance services(d) | 0.08 | 0.27 | 0.20 | 0.01 |
| All groups | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 |
|
| (a) Re-referenced to base of June quarter 2007 = 100.0. |
| (b) Reference base of index: June quarter 2007 = 100.0. |
| (c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (d) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
Table 4: Contribution to total index, by commodity group - March quarter 2010 to June quarter 2010 - index points |
|
| Age pensioner ALCI(a) | Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a) | PBLCI(b) | CPI(a) |
| Commodity group | Mar qtr 2010 | Jun qtr 2010 | Mar qtr 2010 | Jun qtr 2010 | Mar qtr 2010 | Jun qtr 2010 | Mar qtr 2010 | Jun qtr 2010 |
|
| Food | 24.08 | 23.91 | 21.64 | 21.54 | 22.67 | 22.54 | 17.81 | 17.76 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 8.00 | 8.46 | 11.30 | 12.36 | 9.91 | 10.72 | 7.69 | 8.15 |
| Clothing and footwear | 4.64 | 4.62 | 4.36 | 4.36 | 4.48 | 4.47 | 3.59 | 3.59 |
| Housing(c) | 20.71 | 20.71 | 23.68 | 23.81 | 22.43 | 22.51 | 23.15 | 23.28 |
| Household contents and services | 11.22 | 11.32 | 10.27 | 10.36 | 10.67 | 10.77 | 9.47 | 9.55 |
| Health | 8.35 | 8.49 | 3.62 | 3.66 | 5.61 | 5.69 | 5.46 | 5.58 |
| Transportation | 12.02 | 12.14 | 11.57 | 11.70 | 11.76 | 11.89 | 13.71 | 13.81 |
| Communication | 3.72 | 3.72 | 4.35 | 4.35 | 4.09 | 4.09 | 3.17 | 3.17 |
| Recreation | 11.37 | 11.18 | 9.93 | 9.82 | 10.54 | 10.39 | 11.55 | 11.35 |
| Education | 0.18 | 0.18 | 2.15 | 2.15 | 1.32 | 1.32 | 3.28 | 3.28 |
| Financial and insurance services(d) | 5.87 | 5.95 | 7.11 | 7.38 | 6.58 | 6.78 | 9.69 | 9.70 |
| All groups | 110.2 | 110.7 | 110.0 | 111.5 | 110.1 | 111.2 | 108.6 | 109.2 |
|
| (a) Re-referenced to base of June quarter 2007 = 100.0 |
| (b) Reference base of index: June quarter 2007 = 100.0 |
| (c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (d) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
Table 5: Percentage change in analytical living cost indexes, PBLCI and CPI, Commodity group, June quarter 2009 to June quarter 2010 |
|
| Commodity group | Age pensioner | Other government transfer recipient | PBLCI | CPI |
|
| Food | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.4 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 8.5 | 11.8 | 10.7 | 8.7 |
| Clothing and footwear | -3.7 | -4.0 | -3.9 | -3.8 |
| Housing(a) | 7.4 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 5.8 |
| Household contents and services | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Health | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Transportation | 4.2 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 3.2 |
| Communication | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -0.2 |
| Recreation | 0.0 | -0.2 | -0.1 | -0.6 |
| Education | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.7 |
| Financial and insurance services(b) | 8.0 | 13.3 | 11.3 | 3.9 |
| All groups | 3.3 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.1 |
|
| (a) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from other indexes. |
| (b) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
Table 6: Points contribution to annual change, June quarter 2009 to June quarter 2010 - index points |
|
| Commodity group | Age pensioner ALCI(a) | Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a) | PBLCI(b) | CPI(a) |
|
| Food | 0.23 | 0.27 | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 0.67 | 1.31 | 1.04 | 0.65 |
| Clothing and footwear | -0.17 | -0.18 | -0.18 | -0.15 |
| Housing(c) | 1.43 | 1.52 | 1.49 | 1.29 |
| Household contents and services | 0.03 | 0.00 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Health | 0.36 | 0.14 | 0.23 | 0.27 |
| Transportation | 0.49 | 0.52 | 0.51 | 0.43 |
| Communication | 0.00 | -0.01 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Recreation | -0.01 | -0.01 | -0.01 | -0.06 |
| Education | 0.01 | 0.11 | 0.06 | 0.17 |
| Financial and insurance services(d) | 0.44 | 0.86 | 0.69 | 0.37 |
| All groups | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.2 |
|
| (a) Re-referenced to base of June quarter 2007 = 100.0 |
| (b) Reference base of index: June quarter 2007 = 100.0 |
| (c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (d) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
Table 7: Contribution to total index, Commodity group, June quarter 2009 to June quarter 2010 - index points |
|
| Age pensioner ALCI(a) | Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a) | PBLCI(b) | CPI(b) |
| Commodity group | Jun qtr 2009 | Jun qtr 2010 | Jun qtr 2009 | Jun qtr 2010 | Jun qtr 2009 | Jun qtr 2010 | Jun qtr 2009 | Jun qtr 2010 |
|
| Food | 23.68 | 23.91 | 21.27 | 21.54 | 22.29 | 22.54 | 17.51 | 17.76 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 7.79 | 8.46 | 11.05 | 12.36 | 9.68 | 10.72 | 7.50 | 8.15 |
| Clothing and footwear | 4.79 | 4.62 | 4.54 | 4.36 | 4.65 | 4.47 | 3.74 | 3.59 |
| Housing(c) | 19.28 | 20.71 | 22.29 | 23.81 | 21.02 | 22.51 | 21.99 | 23.28 |
| Household contents and services | 11.29 | 11.32 | 10.36 | 10.36 | 10.75 | 10.77 | 9.54 | 9.55 |
| Health | 8.13 | 8.49 | 3.52 | 3.66 | 5.46 | 5.69 | 5.31 | 5.58 |
| Transportation | 11.65 | 12.14 | 11.18 | 11.7 | 11.38 | 11.89 | 13.38 | 13.81 |
| Communication | 3.72 | 3.72 | 4.36 | 4.35 | 4.09 | 4.09 | 3.17 | 3.17 |
| Recreation | 11.19 | 11.18 | 9.83 | 9.82 | 10.40 | 10.39 | 11.41 | 11.35 |
| Education | 0.17 | 0.18 | 2.04 | 2.15 | 1.26 | 1.32 | 3.11 | 3.28 |
| Financial and insurance services(d) | 5.51 | 5.95 | 6.52 | 7.38 | 6.09 | 6.78 | 9.33 | 9.70 |
| All groups | 107.2 | 110.7 | 107.0 | 111.5 | 107.1 | 111.2 | 106.0 | 109.2 |
|
| (a) Re-referenced to base of June quarter 2007 = 100.0. |
| (b) Reference base of index: June quarter 2007 = 100.0. |
| (c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (d) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
Print Page
Print All