MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE
PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS (+0.6%)
The PBLCI rose 0.6% in the December quarter 2016. The main contributor to the rise is in alcohol and tobacco (+4.2%), driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to flow on effects from the federal excise tax increase effective 1 September 2016. Transport (+2.2%) also contributed to the rise, driven by automotive fuel. The rise in automotive fuel is due to a rise in world oil prices.
Health (-2.2%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by pharmaceutical products. The fall is due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) safety net.
The PBLCI recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter. PBLCI households have a higher expenditure on alcohol and tobacco, which rose this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the PBLCI rose 1.7% while the CPI rose 1.5%.
EMPLOYEE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.3%)
The living cost index for employee households rose 0.3% in the December quarter 2016. The main contributor to the rise is in alcohol and tobacco (+2.7%), driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to flow on effects from the federal excise tax increase effective 1 September 2016. Transport (+1.7%) also contributed to the rise, driven by automotive fuel. The rise in automotive fuel is due to a rise in world oil prices.
Insurance and financial services (-1.5%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by a fall in mortgage interest charges following the cut in the RBA cash rate in August.
The LCI for employee households recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter. This is mainly due to the fall in mortgage interest charges, which are not included in the CPI.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for employee households rose 1.0% while the CPI rose 1.5%.
AGE PENSIONERS (+0.3%)
The living cost index for age pensioner households rose 0.3% in the December quarter 2016. The main contributor to the rise is in alcohol and tobacco (+2.5%), driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to flow on effects from the federal excise tax increase effective 1 September 2016. Transport (+2.1%) also contributed to the rise, driven by automotive fuel. The rise in automotive fuel is due to a rise in world oil prices.
Health (-2.0%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by pharmaceutical products. The fall is due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) safety net.
The LCI for age pensioner households recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter. Age pensioner households have a higher expenditure on health, which fell this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for age pensioner households rose 1.6% while the CPI rose 1.5%.
OTHER GOVERNMENT TRANSFER RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS (+0.7%)
The living cost index for other government transfer recipient households rose 0.7% in the December quarter 2016. The main contributor to the rise is in alcohol and tobacco (+5.0%), driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to the flow on effects from the federal excise tax increase effective 1 September 2016. Transport (+2.2%) also contributed to the rise, driven by automotive fuel. The rise in automotive fuel is due to a rise in world oil prices.
Health (-2.7%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by pharmaceutical products. The fall is due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) safety net.
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter. Other government transfer recipient households have a higher expenditure on alcohol and tobacco, which rose this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 1.8% while the CPI rose 1.5%.
SELF–FUNDED RETIREE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.6%)
The living cost index for self-funded retiree households rose 0.6% in the December quarter 2016. The main contributor to the rise is in recreation and culture (+0.9%), driven by domestic holiday travel and accommodation. The rise in domestic holiday travel and accommodation is due to the October school holidays and the lead up to the peak summer holiday period. Alcohol and tobacco (+2.6%) also contributed to the rise, driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to flow on effects from the federal excise tax increase effective 1 September 2016.
Furnishings, household equipment and services (-0.9%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by household textiles. The fall in household textiles is due to increased competition between retailers.
The LCI for self–funded retiree households recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter. Self-funded retiree households have a higher expenditure on recreation and culture, which rose this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for self–funded retiree households rose 1.4% while the CPI rose 1.5%.
Percentage change, Commodity group - September Quarter 2016 to December Quarter 2016 |
|
 | 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 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 4.2 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 2.6 | 2.8 |
| Clothing and footwear | 0.0 | -0.4 | -0.2 | 0.1 | -0.1 | -0.5 |
| Housing(a) | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | -0.9 | -0.9 | -0.9 | -0.9 | -0.9 | -0.8 |
| Health | -2.2 | -0.5 | -2.0 | -2.7 | -0.8 | -0.6 |
| Transport | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.7 |
| Communication | -0.7 | -0.8 | -0.6 | -0.7 | -0.6 | -0.8 |
| Recreation and culture | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| Education | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Insurance and financial services(b) | -0.4 | -1.5 | 0.8 | -1.0 | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| All groups | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
|
| (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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