CAPITAL CITIES COMPARISON


ALL GROUPS

At the All groups level, the CPI rose in all capital cities this quarter, with the exception of Darwin which fell 0.1%. Among the cities recording a positive movement, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart registered the highest increase with a rise of 0.6%, while all other cities were in the range of 0.3% to 0.4%.

The food group recorded the largest positive contribution in all cities with the exception of Perth and Darwin which had food as the second and fourth highest positive contributors respectively. The most significant contributor was the increase in fruit prices across all cities, most notably in Sydney and Canberra. Darwin recorded a much lower than average rise for the food group.

At the eight capital cities level the housing group was the second highest positive contributor to the quarterly movement showing increases in all cities. The most significant contributor was the increase in house purchase prices across all capital cities, most notably in Melbourne and Sydney.

The recreation group was also a significant contributor to the quarterly movement showing increases in all cities, with the exception of Darwin (-2.7%). This was mainly due to domestic holiday travel and accommodation which recorded rises in seven cities, particularly in Hobart. Darwin recorded an offsetting decrease due to a fall for domestic and overseas holiday travel and accommodation.

The transportation group was the largest negative contributor with falls in all cities, with the exception of Hobart (+0.3%). This was mainly due to the impact of price decreases for automotive fuel with a fall in seven cities. The biggest drop in the transportation group was in Darwin which recorded the largest fall for motor vehicles.

The health group was the second largest negative contributor with falls in all cities ranging from -0.6% in Perth and Canberra to -1.4% in Brisbane and Hobart, with pharmaceuticals the most significant contributor.

Over the twelve months to December quarter 2009, the All groups CPI rose in all capital cities with the increases ranging from 1.8% in Melbourne to 3.0% in Darwin. The higher result in Darwin is largely due to stronger than average rises in housing, alcohol and tobacco, recreation and household contents and services.

CPI, All groups index numbers and percentage changes
	INDEX NUMBER(a)	PERCENTAGE CHANGE
	Dec Qtr 2009	Dec 2008 to Dec 2009	Sep Qtr 2009 to Dec Qtr 2009
Sydney	169.1	2.2	0.6
Melbourne	166.4	1.8	0.6
Brisbane	174.7	2.5	0.3
Adelaide	172.7	2.0	0.3
Perth	169.7	2.1	0.6
Hobart	168.7	2.6	0.6
Darwin	167.8	3.0	-0.1
Canberra	170.6	2.3	0.4
Weighted average of eight capital cities	169.5	2.1	0.5
(a) Base of each index: 1989-90 = 100.0.