6467.0 - Selected Living Cost Indexes, Australia, Sep 2013 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/10/2013   
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MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE


PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS

The PBLCI rose 1.2% for the September quarter 2013. The main contributor to the rise was housing (+2.9%), mainly due to rises in utilities and property rates and charges. Transport (+3.1%) and recreation and culture (+1.4%) also contributed to the rise.

Health (–1.9%) contributed the most significant partial offset, largely due to a fall in pharmaceutical products.

The PBLCI recorded the same rise as the CPI (+1.2%) in the September quarter 2013. Pensioner and beneficiary households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on health than the CPI population, which fell this quarter. Pensioner and beneficiary households also have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on utilities which recorded a rise this quarter.

The PBLCI rose 2.0% through the year to the September quarter 2013 compared to the CPI which rose 2.2% through the year to the September quarter 2013.

EMPLOYEE HOUSEHOLDS

The living cost index for employee households rose 0.8% for the September quarter 2013. The main contributor to the rise was housing (+2.7%), mainly due to rises in utilities and property rates and charges. Transport (+2.5%) and recreation and culture (+1.8%) also contributed to the rise.

The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for insurance and financial services (–2.4%), driven by a fall in interest charges.

The LCI for employee households recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+1.2%) for the September quarter 2013. Employee households have a relatively lower proportion of expenditure on housing than the CPI population, which recorded a rise this quarter. This was further offset by the fall in interest charges, which is not included in the CPI.

The LCI for employee households rose 0.9% through the year to the September quarter 2013 compared to the CPI which rose 2.2% through the year to the September quarter 2013.

AGE PENSIONER HOUSEHOLDS

The living cost index for age pensioner households rose 1.3% for the September quarter 2013. The main contributor to the rise was housing (+3.9%), mainly due to rises in utilities and property rates and charges. Transport (+3.2%) and recreation and culture (+1.8%) also contributed to the rise.

The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for health (–1.7%), largely due to a fall in pharmaceutical products.

The LCI for age pensioner households recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+1.2%) in the September quarter 2013. Age pensioner households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on utilities and property rates and charges, both of which recorded rises this quarter.

The LCI for age pensioner households rose 2.0% through the year to the September quarter 2013 compared to the CPI which rose 2.2% through the year to the September quarter 2013.


OTHER GOVERNMENT TRANSFER RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS

The living cost index for other government transfer recipient households rose 1.1% for the September quarter 2013. The main contributor to the rise was housing (+2.4%), mainly due to rises in utilities, property rates and charges and rents. Transport (+3.1%) also contributed to the rise.

The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for insurance and financial services (–2.0%), driven by a fall in interest charges.

The LCI for other government transfer recipient households recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+1.2%) for the September quarter 2013. Other government transfer recipient households have a relatively lower proportion of expenditure on recreation and culture which recorded a rise this quarter.

The LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 2.0% through the year to the September quarter 2013 compared to the CPI which also rose 2.2% through the year to the September quarter 2013.


SELF–FUNDED RETIREE HOUSEHOLDS

The living cost index for self–funded retiree households rose 1.5% for the September quarter 2013. The main contributor to the rise was recreation and culture (+2.7%), which was driven by increases in both international and domestic holiday travel and accommodation. Housing (+4.3%) and transport (+2.3%) also contributed to the rise.

The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for insurance and financial services (–1.0%).

The LCI for self–funded retiree households recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+1.2%) in the September quarter 2013. Self–funded retiree households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on recreation and culture which recorded a rise this quarter.

The LCI for self–funded retiree households rose 2.0% through the year to the September quarter 2013 compared to the CPI which rose 2.2% through the year to the September quarter 2013.

Percentage change, Commodity group – June Quarter 2013 to September Quarter 2013
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
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.0
0.1
0.2
Alcohol and tobacco
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.9
0.9
0.9
Clothing and footwear
1.0
1.1
1.0
0.9
1.1
1.1
Housing(a)
2.9
2.7
3.9
2.4
4.3
2.0
Furnishings, household equipment and services
1.0
1.1
0.9
1.0
0.9
1.0
Health
-1.9
0.2
-1.7
-2.3
-0.3
0.0
Transport
3.1
2.5
3.2
3.1
2.3
2.4
Communication
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
Recreation and culture
1.4
1.8
1.8
1.2
2.7
1.9
Education
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
Insurance and financial services(b)
-1.5
-2.4
-0.9
-2.0
-1.0
0.4
All groups
1.2
0.8
1.3
1.1
1.5
1.2
(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.