MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE
PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS (+0.7%)
The pensioner and beneficiary living cost index (PBLCI) rose 0.7% in the December quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is Alcohol and tobacco (+5.1%), driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to the effects of the 12.5% federal excise tax increase and the further increase based on the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE), effective from 1 September 2018. Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+1.0) also contributed to the rise, driven by fruit.
Health (-1.5%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by pharmaceutical products. The fall in pharmaceutical products is due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), reducing their out-of-pocket expenses.
The living cost index (LCI) for PBLCI recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter.
Over the twelve months to the December quarter 2018 the PBLCI rose 2.1% while the CPI rose 1.8%.
EMPLOYEE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.6%)
The LCI for employee households rose 0.6% in the December quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is Alcohol and tobacco (+3.0%), driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to the effects of the 12.5% federal excise tax increase and the further increase based on the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE), effective from 1 September 2018. Recreation and culture (+1.3) also contributed to the rise, driven by domestic holiday travel and accommodation. The rise in domestic holiday travel and accommodation is due to increased demand during October school holidays and commencement of the peak summer holiday period.
Transport (-0.7%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by automotive fuel. The fall in automotive fuel is due to falls in world oil prices flowing through to petrol prices.
The LCI for employee households recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter.
Over the twelve months to the December quarter 2018 the LCI for employee households rose 1.9% while the CPI rose 1.8%.
AGE PENSIONERS (+0.4%)
The LCI for age pensioner households rose 0.4% in the December quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+1.0%), driven by fruit. Alcohol and tobacco (+3.3%) also contributed to the rise, driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to the effects of the 12.5% federal excise tax increase and the further increase based on the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE), effective 1 September 2018.
Health (-1.4%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by pharmaceutical products, due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), reducing their out-of-pocket expenses.
The LCI for age pensioner households recorded a smaller rise compared to the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter.
Over the twelve months to the December quarter 2018 the LCI for age pensioner households rose 2.0% while the CPI rose 1.8%.
OTHER GOVERNMENT TRANSFER RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS (+0.9%)
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 0.9% in the December quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is Alcohol and tobacco (+6.0%), driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to effects of the 12.5% federal excise tax increase and the further increase based on the AWOTE effective from 1 September 2018. Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+1.0) also contributed to the rise, driven by fruit.
Health (-1.9%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by pharmaceutical products. The fall in pharmaceutical products is due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), reducing their out-of-pocket expenses.
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter.
Over the twelve months to the December quarter 2018 the LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 2.1% while the CPI rose 1.8%.
SELF-FUNDED RETIREE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.5%)
The LCI for self-funded retiree households rose 0.5% in the December quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is Recreation and culture (+1.5%), driven by domestic holiday travel and accommodation due to increased demand during October school holidays and commencement of the peak summer holiday period. Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+1.0) also contributed to the rise, driven by fruit.
Transport (-0.6%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by automotive fuel. The fall in automotive fuel is due to falls in world oil prices flowing through to petrol prices.
The LCI for self-funded retiree households recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter.
Over the twelve months to the December quarter 2018 the LCI for self-funded retiree households rose 2.2% while the CPI rose 1.8%.
Percentage change, Commodity group - September Quarter 2018 to December Quarter 2018 |
|
 | 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 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 5.1 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 6.0 | 1.5 | 3.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | -0.2 | -0.1 | -0.3 | -0.1 | -0.4 | -0.2 |
| Housing(a) | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Health | -1.5 | -0.2 | -1.4 | -1.9 | -0.4 | -0.4 |
| Transport | -0.8 | -0.7 | -0.9 | -0.8 | -0.6 | -0.7 |
| Communication | -1.4 | -1.3 | -1.3 | -1.3 | -1.3 | -1.3 |
| Recreation and culture | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.1 |
| Education | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Insurance and financial services(b) | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| All groups | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
|
| (a) New dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers are included in the CPI but excluded from the Selected Living Cost Indexes. |
| (b) The Selected Living Cost Indexes includes interest charges and general insurance. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
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