MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE
PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS (+0.7%)
The PBLCI rose 0.7% in the September quarter 2017. The main contributors to the rise are housing (+2.6%) and alcohol and tobacco (+2.8%). The rise in housing is driven by electricity due to higher wholesale prices. The rise in alcohol and tobacco is driven by tobacco due to the effects of the 12.5% federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2017.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-1.2%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, driven by vegetables. Favourable growing conditions have led to an increase in the supply of many vegetables, having a downward impact on prices.
The PBLCI recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.6%) this quarter. PBLCI households have higher expenditures on housing and alcohol and tobacco, which both rose this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the PBLCI rose 2.0% while the CPI rose 1.8%.
EMPLOYEE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.7%)
The living cost index for employee households rose 0.7% in the September quarter 2017. The main contributors to the rise are housing (+2.2%) and insurance and financial services (+1.7%). The rise in housing is driven by electricity due to higher wholesale prices. The rise in insurance and financial services is due to increases in mortgage interest charges, which are not included in the CPI.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.8%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, driven by vegetables. Favourable growing conditions have led to an increase in the supply of many vegetables, having a downward impact on prices.
The LCI for employee households (+0.7%) recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.6%) this quarter. Employee households have a higher expenditure on insurance and financial services due to the inclusion of mortgage interest charges, which are not included in the CPI.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for employee households rose 1.5% while the CPI rose 1.8%.
AGE PENSIONERS (+0.5%)
The living cost index for age pensioner households rose 0.5% in the September quarter 2017. The main contributors to the rise are housing (+3.6%) and alcohol and tobacco (+2.0%). The rise in housing is driven by electricity due to higher wholesale prices. The rise in alcohol and tobacco is driven by tobacco due to the effects of the 12.5% federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2017.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-1.3%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, driven by vegetables. Favourable growing conditions have led to an increase in the supply of many vegetables, having a downward impact on prices.
The LCI for age pensioner households recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+0.6%) this quarter. Age pensioner households have a higher expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages, which fell this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for age pensioner households rose 1.7% while the CPI rose 1.8%.
OTHER GOVERNMENT TRANSFER RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS (0.7%)
The living cost index for other government transfer recipient households rose 0.7% in the September quarter 2017. The main contributors to the rise are housing (+2.1%) and alcohol and tobacco (+3.0%). The rise in housing is driven by electricity due to higher wholesale prices. The rise in alcohol and tobacco is driven by tobacco due to the effects of the 12.5% federal excise tax increase effective from 1 September 2017.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-1.2%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, driven by vegetables. Favourable growing conditions have led to an increase in the supply of many vegetables, having a downward impact on prices.
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.6%) this quarter. Other government beneficiary households have a higher expenditure on housing and alcohol and tobacco, which both rose this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 2.1% while the CPI rose 1.8%.
SELF-FUNDED RETIREE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.6%)
The living cost index for self-funded retiree households rose 0.6% in the September quarter 2017. The main contributors to the rise are housing (+3.4%) and recreation and culture (+1.3%). The rise in housing is driven by electricity due to higher wholesale prices. The rise in recreation and culture is driven by international holiday travel and accommodation due to the summer peak seasons in Europe and America.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-1.0%) contributed the most significant offsetting movement this quarter, driven by vegetables. Favourable growing conditions have led to an increase in the supply of many vegetables, having a downward impact on prices.
The LCI for self-funded retiree households recorded the same movement as the CPI (+0.6%) this quarter.
Over the last twelve months the LCI for self-funded retiree households rose 1.6% while the CPI rose 1.8%.
Percentage change, Commodity group - June Quarter 2017 to September Quarter 2017 |
|
 | 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 | -1.2 | -0.8 | -1.3 | -1.2 | -1.0 | -0.9 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 2.8 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | -1.2 | -1.0 | -1.0 | -1.2 | -0.9 | -0.9 |
| Housing(a) | 2.6 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 1.9 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Health | -1.3 | 0.0 | -1.2 | -1.5 | -0.2 | -0.2 |
| Transport | -0.3 | -0.1 | -0.3 | -0.3 | -0.1 | 0.0 |
| Communication | -1.4 | -1.5 | -1.2 | -1.4 | -1.2 | -1.4 |
| Recreation and culture | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Education | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Insurance and financial services(b) | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 |
| All groups | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
|
| (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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