MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE
PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS (+0.4%)
The pensioner and beneficiary living cost index (PBLCI) rose 0.4% in the September quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is housing (+0.7%), driven by property rates and charges which are reviewed annually in September quarters. Alcohol and tobacco (+1.4) also contributed to the rise, driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to effects of the 12.5% federal excise tax increase and the further increase based on the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE), effective 1 September 2018.
Health (-1.8%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by pharmaceutical products due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), reducing their out-of-pocket expenses.
The living cost index (LCI) for PBLCI recorded the same movement as the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter.
Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2018 the PBLCI rose 2.2% while the CPI rose 1.9%.
EMPLOYEE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.4%)
The LCI for employee households rose 0.4% in the September quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is recreation and culture (+1.5%), driven by international holiday travel and accommodation, due to the peak summer seasons in Europe and America. Alcohol and tobacco (+1.3) also contributed to the rise, driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to effects of the 12.5% federal excise tax increase and the further increase based on the AWOTE effective 1 September 2018.
Furnishings, household equipment and services (-1.7%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by child care. The fall in child care is due to the introduction of the Child Care Subsidy from 2 July 2018, which replaced the Child Care Rebate and Child Care Benefit.
The LCI for employee households recorded the same movement as the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter.
Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2018 the LCI for employee households rose 2.0% while the CPI rose 1.9%.
AGE PENSIONERS (+0.6%)
The LCI for age pensioner households rose 0.6% in the September quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is housing (+1.1%), driven by property rates and charges which are reviewed annually in September quarters. Recreation and culture (+1.5%) also contributed to the rise, driven by international holiday travel and accommodation, due to the peak summer seasons in Europe and America.
Health (-1.6%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by pharmaceutical products, due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), reducing their out-of-pocket expenses.
The LCI for age pensioner households (+0.6%) recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. Age pensioner households do not have expenditure on child care which fell in the CPI this quarter.
Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2018 the LCI for age pensioner households rose 2.3% while the CPI rose 1.9%.
OTHER GOVERNMENT TRANSFER RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS (+0.3%)
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 0.3% in the September quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is alcohol and tobacco (+1.5%), driven by tobacco. The rise in tobacco is due to effects of the 12.5% federal excise tax increase and the further increase based on the AWOTE effective 1 September 2018.
Furnishings, household equipment and services (-1.3%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by child care. The fall in child care is due to the introduction of the Child Care Subsidy from 2 July 2018, which replaced the Child Care Rebate and Child Care Benefit.
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 have a lower expenditure on recreation and culture, which rose this quarter, when compared to the CPI population.
Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2018 the LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 2.2% while the CPI rose 1.9%.
SELF–FUNDED RETIREE HOUSEHOLDS (+0.9%)
The LCI for self-funded retiree households rose 0.9% in the September quarter 2018. The main contributor to the rise is recreation and culture (+2.2%), driven by international holiday travel and accommodation due to the peak summer seasons in Europe and America. Housing (+1.1%) also contributed to the rise driven by property rates and charges which are reviewed annually in September quarters.
Health (-0.5%) contributed the most significant partial offset this quarter, driven by pharmaceutical products due to the cyclical effect of a greater proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the PBS, reducing their out-of-pocket expenses.
The LCI for self–funded retiree households (+0.9%) recorded a larger rise compared to the CPI (+0.4%) this quarter. Self-funded retiree households have a larger expenditure on recreation and culture, which rose this quarter, compared to the CPI population.
Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2018 the LCI for self–funded retiree households rose 2.3% while the CPI rose 1.9%.
Percentage change, Commodity group - June Quarter 2018 to September 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 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Clothing and footwear | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Housing(a) | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | -0.4 | -1.7 | 0.6 | -1.3 | 0.7 | -1.2 |
| Health | -1.8 | -0.2 | -1.6 | -2.3 | -0.5 | -0.4 |
| Transport | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Communication | -1.3 | -1.4 | -1.3 | -1.4 | -1.2 | -1.4 |
| Recreation and culture | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| Education | -0.3 | -0.1 | 0.8 | -0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Insurance and financial services(b) | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| All groups | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 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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