MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE
PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS (+0.7%)
The living cost index for PBLCI rose 0.7% in the March quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is health (+6.1%), driven by pharmaceutical products and medical and hospital services. The rise in pharmaceutical products and medical and hospital services is mainly due to the cyclical reduction in the proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) as well as the co-payment indexation for PBS. The safety net threshold amount for both the PBS and MBS are reset on 1 January each year, and the co-payment indexation for PBS is scheduled on the same date. Housing (+0.7) also contributed to the rise, driven by electricity and gas and other household fuels.
Clothing and footwear (-2.4%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by garments for women and footwear for women, following ongoing competition and discounting activity in the retail industry.
The LCI for PBLCI (+0.7%) recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. PBLCI households have a higher expenditure on health, which rose this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the PBLCI rose 2.3% while the CPI rose 1.9%.
EMPLOYEE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.5%)
The living cost index for employee households rose 0.5% in the March quarter 2018. The main contributors to the rise are education (+2.8%) and transport (+1.1%). The rise in education is driven by fee increases for secondary education, preschool and primary school education following the commencement of the new school year. The rise in transport is driven by motor vehicles and automotive fuel.
Recreation and culture (-0.7%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by international holiday, travel and accommodation. Falls in international holiday, travel and accommodation are due to the winter off-peak seasons in Europe and America.
The LCI for employee households (+0.5%) recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for employee households rose 2.0% while the CPI rose 1.9%.
AGE PENSIONERS (+0.8%)
The living cost index for age pensioner households rose 0.8% in the March quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is health (+5.5%), driven by pharmaceutical products and medical and hospital services. The rise in pharmaceutical products and medical and hospital services is mainly due to the cyclical reduction in the proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) as well as the co-payment indexation for PBS. The safety net threshold amount for both the PBS and MBS are reset on 1 January each year, and the co-payment indexation for PBS is scheduled on the same date. Housing (+0.7) also contributed to the rise, driven by electricity and gas and other household fuels.
Clothing and Footwear (-2.0%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by garments for women, following ongoing competition and discounting activity in the retail industry.
The LCI for age pensioner households (+0.8%) recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. Age pensioner households have a higher expenditure on health, which rose this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for age pensioner households rose 2.1% while the CPI rose 1.9%.
OTHER GOVERNMENT TRANSFER RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS (+0.7%)
The living cost index for other government transfer recipient households rose 0.7% in the March quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is health (+7.4%), driven by pharmaceutical products and medical and hospital services. The rise in pharmaceutical products and medical and hospital services is mainly due to the cyclical reduction in the proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) as well as the co-payment indexation for PBS. The safety net threshold amount for both the PBS and MBS are reset on 1 January each year, and the co-payment indexation for PBS is scheduled on the same date. Housing (+0.8) also contributed to the rise, driven by electricity and gas and other household fuels.
Clothing and footwear (-2.5%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by garments for women and garments for infants and children, following ongoing competition and discounting activity in the retail industry.
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households (+0.7%) recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. Other government transfer recipient households have a higher expenditure on housing, which rose this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 2.4% while the CPI rose 1.9%.
SELF-FUNDED RETIREE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.4%)
The living cost index for self-funded retiree households rose 0.4% in the March quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is health (+2.5%), driven by pharmaceutical products and medical and hospital services. The rise in pharmaceutical products and medical and hospital services is mainly due to the cyclical reduction in the proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) as well as the co-payment indexation for PBS. The safety net threshold amount for both the PBS and MBS are reset on 1 January each year, and the co-payment indexation for PBS is scheduled on the same date. Transport also contributed to the rise, driven by motor vehicles and automotive fuel.
Recreation and culture (-0.5%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by international holiday, travel and accommodation. Falls in international holiday, travel and accommodation are due to the winter off-peak seasons in Europe and America.
The LCI for self-funded retiree households recorded the same movement as the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for self-funded retiree households rose 1.8% while the CPI rose 1.9%.
Percentage change, Commodity group - December Quarter 2017 to March 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 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| Clothing and footwear | -2.4 | -2.0 | -2.0 | -2.5 | -1.8 | -2.0 |
| Housing(a) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | -0.5 | -0.3 | -0.5 | -0.3 | -0.6 | -0.4 |
| Health | 6.1 | 1.7 | 5.5 | 7.4 | 2.5 | 2.2 |
| Transport | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| Communication | -0.3 | -0.4 | -0.3 | -0.2 | -0.2 | -0.4 |
| Recreation and culture | -0.7 | -0.7 | -0.6 | -0.8 | -0.5 | -0.7 |
| Education | 2.9 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| Insurance and financial services(b) | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| All groups | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 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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