6401.0 - Consumer Price Index, Australia, Sep 2011 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/10/2011   
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MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE


CPI GROUPS

The discussion of the CPI groups below is ordered in terms of their absolute significance to the change in All groups index points for the quarter (see Tables 6 and 7).

Weighted average of eight capital cities, Percentage change from previous quarter
Graph: Weighted average of eight capital cities, Percentage change from previous quarter



HOUSING GROUP (+1.9%)

The housing group rose in the September quarter 2011. The main contributors to the movement were electricity (+7.8%), water and sewerage (+8.6%) and property rates and charges (+5.2%) all primarily due to annual price increases in July. Also contributing to the rise was rents (+1.2%) which was driven by rises in Sydney and Canberra.

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the housing group rose 4.2%.


RECREATION AND CULTURE GROUP (+0.9%)

The recreation and culture group rose in the September quarter 2011, mainly due to price increases in international holiday travel and accommodation (+5.1%) and domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+1.7%). The most significant offsetting movement was recorded in audio, visual and computing equipment (–3.3%).

The rise in international holiday travel and accommodation was attributable to increased airfares to most surveyed destinations, coinciding with the shoulder/peak season in Asia and continuing peak season in Europe and North America. In the CPI, airfares are collected in advance (at the time of payment), but only used in the CPI in the quarter in which the trip is undertaken. International airfares are collected two months in advance (January for travel in March) and domestic airfares are collected one month in advance (January for February).

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the recreation and culture group fell 0.1%.


CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR GROUP (+1.5%)

The clothing and footwear group rose in the September quarter 2011. The main contributors to the movement were accessories (+3.3%), footwear for women (+5.1%) and garments for men (+1.5%), partially offset by a fall in footwear for men (–1.2%). The rises were due in part to prices rebounding from the sales in the June quarter 2011, as well as the arrival of new season clothing and footwear.

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the clothing and footwear group rose 1.2%.


HEALTH GROUP (–1.0%)

The health group fell in the September quarter 2011. The main contributor to this fall was pharmaceutical products (–5.0%), mainly due to a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme safety net compared to the June quarter 2011. Therapeutic appliances and equipment (+4.1%) and dental services (+1.1%) provided partial offsetting movements.

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the health group rose 3.7%.


FOOD AND NON–ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES GROUP (–0.2%)

The food and non–alcoholic beverages group fell in the September quarter 2011. The most significant contributors were vegetables (–2.5%) and fruit (–1.2%). The falls for vegetables and fruit were mainly driven by seasonal factors and favourable weather conditions in growing areas, which resulted in increased supplies. Take away and fast food (+1.0%) provided the most significant offset.

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the food and non–alcoholic beverages group rose 6.4%. Fruit rose 65.8% over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011 mainly due to increases in the price of bananas due to shortages created by Cyclone Yasi in February 2011.


INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP (+0.7%)

The insurance and financial services group rose in the September quarter 2011. The main contributor was insurance (+2.8%), primarily due to rises in premiums for house and household contents insurance.

Deposit and loan facilities (direct charges) fell 0.5%, mainly due to decreases in credit card and home loan packaging fees.

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the insurance and financial services group rose 4.5%.


ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO GROUP (+0.5%)

The alcohol and tobacco group rose in the September quarter 2011. The main contributor to the rise was tobacco (+1.8%) partially due to the effects of the federal excise tax increase from August 2011.

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the alcohol and tobacco group rose 3.0%.


FURNISHINGS, HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES GROUP (+0.2%)

The furnishings, household equipment and services group rose in the September quarter 2011, with an increase in glassware, tableware and household utensils (+3.3%). Furniture (–0.9%) provided the largest offsetting fall.

Child care (+1.8%) recorded a rise this quarter, primarily due to price rises at most providers which were partially offset by an increase in the maximum rate of Child Care Benefit (CCB) from 4 July 2011. For further information, please see Appendix 2 of this issue.

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the furnishings, household equipment and services group fell 0.5%.


TRANSPORT GROUP (+0.1%)

The transport group rose in the September quarter 2011. The main contributors were maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (+3.8%) and other services in respect of motor vehicles (+2.1%). Automotive fuel (–1.4%) and motor vehicles (–1.0%) recorded the largest offsetting falls.

Automotive fuel rose in April (+1.4%), then fell in May (–0.1%) and June (–3.4%), rose in July (+0.5%), fell in August (–0.2%) and then rose in September (+1.8%).

The following graph illustrates the movement of the average daily prices for unleaded petrol for the eight capital cities over the last fifteen months.

Diagram: Transport group (+0.1%)

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the transport group rose 4.3%.


EDUCATION GROUP (+0.1%)

The education group rose in the September quarter 2011. The only contributor to the movement was preschool and primary education (+0.2%).

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the education group rose 5.8%.


COMMUNICATION GROUP (0.0%)

The communication group recorded no movement in the September quarter 2011 due to a fall in telecommunication equipment and services (–0.2%) and an offsetting rise in postal services (+2.4%).

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the communication group rose 0.6%.


INTERNATIONAL TRADE EXPOSURE – TRADABLES AND NON–TRADABLES

The International trade exposure series were reviewed and updated for the 16th series. There were five changes of classification. 'Cakes and biscuits' and 'Jams, honey and spreads' were reclassified from non–tradable to tradable. 'Waters, soft drinks and juices', 'Newspapers, magazines and stationery' and 'Pets and related products' were reclassified from tradable to non–tradable. A detailed description of which expenditure classes are classified as tradable and non–tradable in the 16th series is shown in Appendix 1. These changes are included from the September quarter 2011. The historical tradable and non–tradable series will not be revised.

The tradables component (see Table 8) of the All groups CPI fell 0.2% in the September quarter 2011. Prices for the goods and services in this component are largely determined on the world market. The tradables component represents approximately 40% of the weight of the CPI. The most significant contributors to the 0.5% fall in the tradable goods component were pharmaceutical products, audio, visual and computing equipment, automotive fuel, vegetables, motor vehicles, fruit and audio, visual and computing media and services. The most significant offsetting rises were for tobacco, accessories, footwear for women and glassware, tableware and household utensils. The rise in the tradable services component of 5.0% was driven by international holiday travel and accommodation.

The non–tradables component of the All groups CPI rose 1.2% in the September quarter 2011. Prices for the goods and services in this component are largely determined by domestic price pressures. The non–tradables component represents approximately 60% of the weight of the CPI. The non–tradable goods component rose 1.3% mainly due to electricity, water and sewerage, gas and other household fuels, and take away and fast foods. The non–tradable services component rose 1.1%, due to increases for rents, property rates and charges, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, insurance, domestic holiday travel and accommodation, other services in respect of motor vehicles and sports participation.

Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the tradables component rose 3.3% and the non–tradables component rose 3.6%. This compares to both components rising 3.6% through the year to the June quarter 2011.


SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ANALYTICAL SERIES

As part of the introduction of the 16th series CPI, the ABS is including a range of new analytical measures including the All groups CPI, seasonally adjusted series. A detailed explanation of this series is available in Information Paper: Seasonal Adjustment of Consumer Price Indexes, 2011 (cat. no. 6401.0.55.003) available on the ABS website. This paper includes a description of the improved seasonal adjustment method applied and some experimental estimates of the impact of the 16th series seasonal adjustment method on the trimmed mean and weighted median series.

Since the release of the information paper, a regular annual seasonal reanalysis has been undertaken. This has resulted in the inclusion of a trend break for tobacco to account for an unusually large rise from the June quarter 2010.

In the September quarter 2011, the All groups CPI, seasonally adjusted rose 0.4%, compared with the unadjusted All groups CPI rise of 0.6%. The All groups CPI, seasonally adjusted was lower in the September quarter 2011 than the unadjusted All groups CPI as the regular increase in components such as electricity, gas, water and sewage and property rates and charges which occur every September quarter was dampened.

The trimmed mean rose 0.3% in the September quarter 2011, compared to a revised rise of 0.8% in the June quarter 2011. Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the trimmed mean rose 2.3% compared to a revised rise of 2.6% over the twelve months to the June quarter 2011.

The weighted median rose 0.3% in the September quarter 2011, compared to a revised rise of 0.8% in the June quarter 2011. Over the twelve months to the September quarter 2011, the weighted median rose 2.6% compared to a revised rise of 2.9% over the twelve months to the June quarter 2011.