COMMENTARY
IMPORT PRICE INDEX
The Import Price Index recorded no change in the March quarter 2013. Falls in the prices paid for gold, non-monetary (excluding gold ores and concentrates) (-4.9%), inorganic chemicals (-19.4%), office machines and automatic data-processing machines (-2.7%), and machinery specialised for particular industries (-2.2%) were offset by rises in the prices paid for petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (+4.0%).
Through the year to the March quarter 2013, the Import Price Index rose 0.3%. This increase was driven mainly by rises in the prices paid for road vehicles (including air-cushion vehicles) (+1.5%). Partly offsetting these through the year rises were falls in the prices paid for machinery specialised for particular industries (-3.4%), fertilisers (excluding crude) (-19.2%) and telecommunications and sound-recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment (-3.0%).
EXPORT PRICE INDEX
The Export Price Index rose 2.8% in the March quarter 2013. This increase was driven mainly by rises in the prices received for metalliferous ores and metal scrap (+12.5%), and petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (+2.3%). These increases were partly offset by falls in the prices received for coal, coke and briquettes (-5.7%), gold, non-monetary (excluding gold, ores and concentrates) (-5.1%) and cereals and cereal preparations (-3.0%).
Through the year to the March quarter 2013, the Export Price Index fell 5.2%. This decrease was driven mainly by falls in the prices received for coal, coke and briquettes (-22.9%), metalliferous ores and metal scrap (-2.2%), textile fibres and their wastes (-12.4%), non-ferrous metals (-3.2%), gold, non-monetary (excluding gold, ores and concentrates) (-2.4%), sugars, sugar preparations and honey (-18.7%), and meat and meat preparations (-3.7%). Partly offsetting these through the year falls were rises in the prices received for cereals and cereal preparations (+7.8%), vegetables and fruit (+13.5%), and inorganic chemicals (+30.8%).