MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE
PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS (+0.2%)
The main contributor to the rise in the PBLCI this quarter is alcohol and tobacco (+1.5%), driven by rises for tobacco and beer. The increase in tobacco is mainly due to the effects of the federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2015. Housing (+0.6%) also contributed to the rise, mainly driven by a rise in property rates and charges.
Health (-1.9%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, largely driven by a fall in pharmaceutical products due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) safety net.
The PBLCI recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter, mainly due the negative movement for health in the PBLCI.
Over the last twelve months the PBLCI rose 1.0% while the CPI rose 1.5%.
EMPLOYEE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.2%)
The main contributor to the rise in the living cost index for employee households this quarter is alcohol and tobacco (+1.2%), driven by rises for tobacco and beer. The increase in tobacco is mainly due to the effects of the federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2015.
Insurance and financial services (-0.9%) is the largest offsetting contributor, driven by a fall in mortgage interest charges with the flow on effect of banks passing on the cuts in the RBA cash rate in February and May.
The LCI for employee households recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter. This is mainly due to fall in mortgage interest charges, which are not included in the CPI. Further to this, the housing group in the SLCIs does not include new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers, which is a major contributor to the rise in the CPI this quarter. For further information, see paragraph 14 of the Explanatory Notes.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for employee households rose 0.7% while the CPI rose 1.5%.
AGE PENSIONER HOUSEHOLDS (+0.1%)
The main contributor to the rise in the living cost index for age pensioner households this quarter is housing (+0.8%), mainly driven by a rise in property rates and charges.
Health (-1.7%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, largely driven by a fall in pharmaceutical products due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) safety net.
The LCI for age pensioner households recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter, mainly due the negative movement for health for age pensioner households.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for age pensioner households rose 0.9% while the CPI rose 1.5%.
OTHER GOVERNMENT TRANSFER RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS (+0.2%)
The main contributor to the rise in the living cost index for other government transfer recipient households this quarter is alcohol and tobacco (+1.6%), driven by rises for tobacco and beer. The increase in tobacco is mainly due to the effects of the federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2015.
Health (-2.3%) contributed the most significant partial offset, largely driven by a fall in pharmaceutical products due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) safety net.
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+0.5%) this quarter, mainly due the negative movement for health for other government transfer recipient households.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 1.0% while the CPI rose 1.5%.
SELF-FUNDED RETIREE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.5%)
The main contributor to the rise in the living cost index for self-funded retiree households this quarter is recreation and culture (+1.0%), driven by international holiday travel and accommodation. Housing also contributed to the rise (+1.3%), mainly driven by a rise in property rates and charges.
Communication (-1.8%) contributed the most significant partial offset, driven by a fall in telecommunication equipment and services.
The LCI for self-funded retiree households recorded the same rise as the CPI this quarter.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for self-funded retiree households rose 1.2% while the CPI rose 1.5%.
Percentage change, Commodity group - June Quarter 2015 to September Quarter 2015 |
|
 | 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 | 0.1 | 0.0 | -0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.3 |
| Clothing and footwear | -1.0 | -1.1 | -0.9 | -1.0 | -0.9 | -1.1 |
| Housing(a) | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| Health | -1.9 | 0.6 | -1.7 | -2.3 | -0.1 | 0.3 |
| Transport | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Communication | -1.9 | -1.9 | -1.8 | -2.0 | -1.8 | -2.0 |
| Recreation and culture | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| Education | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Insurance and financial services(b) | -0.1 | -0.9 | 0.8 | -0.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 |
| All groups | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 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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