MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE
PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS (+0.3%)
The living cost index for PBLCI rose 0.3% in the June quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is transport (+2.4%), driven by automotive fuel due to increases in world oil prices. Alcohol and tobacco (+1.9) also contributed to the rise, driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to the flow on effects of the federal excise tax increase effective 1 March 2018.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.7%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by vegetables and fruit due to the increased supply of seasonal varieties.
The LCI for PBLCI (+0.3%) recorded a smaller rise compared to the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. PBLCI households have a higher expenditure on utilities, which fell this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the PBLCI rose 2.5% while the CPI rose 2.1%.
EMPLOYEE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.4%)
The living cost index for employee households rose 0.4% in the June quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is transport (+1.6%), driven by automotive fuel due to increases in world oil prices. Alcohol and tobacco (+1.5) also contributed to the rise, driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to the flow on effects of the federal excise tax increase effective 1 March 2018.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.4%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by vegetables and fruit due to the increased supply of seasonal varieties.
The LCI for employee households recorded the same movement as the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for employee households rose 2.3% while the CPI rose 2.1%.
AGE PENSIONERS (+0.2%)
The living cost index for age pensioner households rose 0.2% in the June quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is transport (+2.2%), driven by automotive fuel due to increases in world oil prices. Health (+1.0) also contributed to the rise, driven by medical and hospital services. The rise in medical and hospital services is due to the annual increase in private health insurance (PHI) premiums on 1 April, and at the same time, the decrease in the PHI rebate, which increases out-of-pocket expenses.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.7%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by vegetables and fruit due to the increased supply of seasonal varieties.
The LCI for age pensioner households (+0.2%) recorded a smaller rise compared to the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. Age pensioner households have a higher expenditure on utilities, which fell this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for age pensioner households rose 2.2% while the CPI rose 2.1%.
OTHER GOVERNMENT TRANSFER RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS (+0.3%)
The living cost index for other government transfer recipient households rose 0.3% in the June quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is transport (+2.4%), driven by automotive fuel due to increases in world oil prices. Alcohol and tobacco (+2.1) also contributed to the rise, driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to the flow on effects of the federal excise tax increase effective 1 March 2018.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.6%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by vegetables and fruit due to the increased supply of seasonal varieties.
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households (+0.3%) recorded a smaller rise compared to the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. Other government transfer recipient households recorded a much smaller rise for health, when compared to the CPI population, due to a higher weight and larger fall for pharmaceutical products.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 2.7% while the CPI rose 2.1%.
SELF–FUNDED RETIREE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.4%)
The living cost index for self-funded retiree households rose 0.4% in the June quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is health (+2.0%), driven by medical and hospital services. The rise is due to the annual increase in private health insurance (PHI) premiums on 1 April, and at the same time, the decrease in the PHI rebate, which increases out-of-pocket expenses. Transport (+1.5%) also contributed to the rise, driven by automotive fuel due to increases in world oil prices.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.5%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by vegetables and fruit due to the increased supply of seasonal varieties.
The LCI for self–funded retiree households recorded the same movement as the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter.
Percentage change, Commodity group - March Quarter 2018 to June 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 | -0.7 | -0.4 | -0.7 | -0.6 | -0.5 | -0.4 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 1.6 |
| Clothing and footwear | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Housing(a) | -0.2 | -0.3 | -0.2 | -0.3 | -0.2 | 0.2 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Health | 0.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
| Transport | 2.4 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| Communication | -1.3 | -1.3 | -1.1 | -1.4 | -1.0 | -1.3 |
| Recreation and culture | -0.2 | -0.4 | -0.3 | -0.2 | -0.4 | -0.4 |
| Education | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Insurance and financial services(b) | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| All groups | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
|
| (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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