MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE
PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS (+0.4%)
The main contributor to the rise in the PBLCI this quarter is alcohol and tobacco (+4.1%), driven by rises for tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to flow on effects from the federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2015. Recreation and culture (+1.2%) also contributed to the rise, mainly driven by a rise in domestic holiday travel and accommodation.
Transport (-1.8%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, largely driven by a fall in automotive fuel as falls in world oil prices continue to influence domestic fuel prices.
The PBLCI recorded the same rise as the CPI this quarter.
Over the last twelve months the PBLCI rose 1.3% while the CPI rose 1.7%.
EMPLOYEE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.5%)
The main contributor to the rise in the living cost index for employee households this quarter is alcohol and tobacco (+2.5%), driven by rises for tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to flow on effects from the federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2015. Recreation and culture (+1.6%) also contributed to the rise, mainly driven by a rise in domestic holiday travel and accommodation due to the October school holiday period and the lead up to the peak holiday period.
Transport (-1.5%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, driven by a fall in automotive fuel as falls in world oil prices continue to influence domestic fuel prices.
The LCI for employee households recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. This is mainly due to a rise in mortgage interest charges, which are not included in the CPI.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for employee households rose 1.1% while the CPI rose 1.7%.
AGE PENSIONER HOUSEHOLDS (+0.2%)
The main contributor to the rise in the living cost index for age pensioners this quarter is alcohol and tobacco (+2.3%), driven by rises for tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to flow on effects from the federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2015. Recreation and culture (+1.4%) also contributed to the rise, mainly driven by a rise in domestic holiday travel and accommodation due to the October school holiday period and the lead up to the peak holiday period.
Health (-1.8%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, driven by a fall in pharmaceutical products mainly due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) safety net. Transport (-1.7%) also partially offset the rises, largely driven by a fall in automotive fuel as falls in world oil prices continue to influence domestic fuel prices.
The LCI for age pensioners recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. Age pensioner households have a higher expenditure on health than the CPI population, which fell this quarter.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for employee households rose 1.2% while the CPI rose 1.7%.
OTHER GOVERNMENT TRANSFER RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS (+0.6%)
The main contributor to the rise in the living cost index for other government transfer recipient households this quarter is alcohol and tobacco (+4.9%), driven by rises for tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to flow on effects from the federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2015. Recreation and culture (+1.1%) also contributed to the rise, mainly driven by a rise in domestic holiday travel and accommodation.
Transport (-1.9%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, driven by a fall in automotive fuel as falls in world oil prices continue to influence domestic fuel prices.
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. Other government transfer recipient households have a higher expenditure on alcohol and tobacco than the CPI population, which rose this quarter.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 1.4% while the CPI rose 1.7%.
SELF-FUNDED RETIREE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.7%)
The main contributor to the rise in the living cost index for self–funded retiree households this quarter is recreation and culture (+2.5%), driven by rises for domestic holiday travel and accommodation. Rises are due to the October school holiday period and the lead up to the peak holiday period. Alcohol and tobacco (+2.3%) also contributed to the rise, mainly driven by a rise in tobacco.
Transport (-1.4%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, driven by a fall in automotive fuel as falls in world oil prices continue to influence domestic fuel prices.
The LCI for self–funded retiree households recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. Self-funded retiree households have a higher expenditure on recreation and culture than the CPI population, which rose this quarter.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for self–funded retiree households rose 1.6% while the CPI rose 1.7%.
Percentage change, Commodity group - September Quarter 2015 to December Quarter 2015 |
|
 | Pensioner and beneficiary LCI | Employee LCI | Age pensioner LCI | Other government transfer recipient LCI | Self-funded retiree LCI | Consumer Price Index (CPI) |
| Weighted average of eight capital cities | | | | | | % |
|
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 4.1 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 4.9 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| Clothing and footwear | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.6 |
| Housing(a) | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Health | -2.1 | -0.2 | -1.8 | -2.4 | -0.5 | -0.4 |
| Transport | -1.8 | -1.5 | -1.7 | -1.9 | -1.4 | -1.4 |
| Communication | -2.4 | -2.5 | -2.4 | -2.4 | -2.5 | -2.4 |
| Recreation and culture | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 1.6 |
| Education | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Insurance and financial services(b) | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.8 |
| All groups | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
|
| (a) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the 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. |
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