6463.0 - Analytical Living Cost Indexes for Selected Australian Household Types, Dec 2011 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/02/2012   
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RESULTS BY HOUSEHOLD TYPE


For ease of comparison, the index reference period for the CPI data used throughout this publication has been re–referenced to June quarter 1998 = 100.0. All index numbers and percentage changes shown are calculated on this basis. This may lead to some minor differences due to rounding from the figures published in Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6401.0).

There are conceptual differences in the way that the housing and financial and insurance services groups are treated in the ALCIs and CPI. See the Explanatory Notes for further detail.


Employee households

The ALCI for employee households rose 0.1% for the December quarter 2011 mainly due to increases in domestic holiday travel and accommodation, rents and interest charges. The major offsets were provided by fruit and vegetables.

The ALCI for employee households showed a rise while the CPI (re–referenced) recorded no change for the December quarter 2011. The rise in interest charges, which for conceptual reasons is not included in the CPI, contributed to the difference.

The ALCI for employee households rose 3.3% through the year to the December quarter 2011. This is a larger rise compared to the CPI (re–referenced) (+3.1%) through the year to the December quarter 2011.


Age pensioner households

The ALCI for age pensioner households fell 0.4% for the December quarter 2011 mainly due to decreases in fruit, pharmaceutical products and vegetables. The major offsets were provided by domestic holiday travel and accommodation and rents.

The ALCI for age pensioner households showed a fall while the CPI (re–referenced) recorded no change for the December quarter 2011. Age pensioner households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on health and food and non–alcoholic beverages than the CPI population, which both saw price falls this quarter. Age pensioner households also have a relatively lower expenditure on housing, which rose this quarter.

The ALCI for age pensioner households rose 3.0% through the year to the December quarter 2011. This is a smaller rise compared to the CPI (re–referenced) (+3.1%) through the year to the December quarter 2011.


Other government transfer recipient households

The ALCI for other government transfer recipient households recorded no change for the December quarter 2011. Increases recorded for rents, domestic holiday travel and accommodation and tobacco were offset by falls in fruit, pharmaceutical products and vegetables.

The ALCI for other government transfer recipient households showed no change for the December quarter 2011, consistent with the CPI (re–referenced) (0.0%). Other government transfer recipient households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on housing and alcohol and tobacco than the CPI population, which both saw price rises this quarter. This was largely offset by falls to food and non–alcoholic beverages on which age pensioner households have a relatively higher expenditure.

The ALCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 3.3% through the year to the December quarter 2011. This is a larger rise compared to the CPI (re–referenced) (+3.1%) through the year to the December quarter 2011.


Self–funded retiree households

The ALCI for self–funded retiree households fell 0.1% for the December quarter 2011 mainly due to decreases in fruit, pharmaceutical products, international holiday travel and accommodation and vegetables. The major offsets were provided by domestic holiday travel and accommodation and automotive fuel.

The ALCI for self–funded retiree households showed a fall while the CPI (re–referenced) recorded no change for the December quarter 2011. Self–funded retiree households have a higher proportion of expenditure relative to the CPI population for health which recorded a fall this quarter, largely due to a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme safety net compared to the September quarter.

The ALCI for self–funded retiree households rose 3.3% through the year to the December quarter 2011. This is a larger rise compared to the CPI (re–referenced) (+3.1%) through the year to the December quarter 2011.


GRAPHS

Graph 1: Index numbers for Employee households, All groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph: Graph 1. Employee households and CPI (re-referenced), index numbers


Graph 2: Index numbers for Age pensioner households, All groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph: Graph 2. Age pensioner households, All groups, Index numbers.


Graph 3: Index numbers for Other government transfer recipient households, All groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph: Graph 3. Other government transfer recipient households and CPI (re-referenced), index numbers


Graph 4: Index numbers for Self–funded retiree households, All groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph: Graph 4. Self-funded retiree households and CPI (re-referenced), index numbers


Graph 5: Employee households and CPI, All groups, Percentage change (from previous quarter)
Graph: Graph 5. Employee households and CPI, All Groups - Percentage change (from previous quarter)


Graph 6: Age pensioner households and CPI, All groups, Percentage change (from previous quarter)
Graph: Graph 6. Age pensioner households and CPI, All groups - Percentage change (from previous quarter)


Graph 7: Other government transfer recipient households and CPI, All groups, Percentage change (from previous quarter)
Graph: Graph 7: Other government transfer recipient households and CPI, All groups, Percentage change (from previous quarter)


Graph 8: Self–funded retiree households and CPI, All groups, Percentage change (from previous quarter)
Graph: Graph 8: Self–funded retiree households and CPI, All groups, Percentage change (from previous quarter)

Table 1: Percentage change in Analytical Living Cost Indexes and CPI, Commodity group – September Quarter 2011 to December Quarter 2011
Weighted average of eight capital cities
Employee ALCI(a)
Age pensioner ALCI(a)
Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a)
Self–funded retiree ALCI(a)
CPI(b)
Food and non–alcoholic beverages
-1.4
-2.1
-1.8
-1.9
-1.5
Alcohol and tobacco
0.9
0.9
0.9
0.7
0.9
Clothing and footwear
-0.7
-0.2
-0.2
-0.4
-0.5
Housing(c)
0.5
0.6
0.9
0.2
0.5
Furnishings, household equipment and services
0.1
-0.2
-0.2
-0.2
0.1
Health
-1.1
-2.6
-3.2
-1.3
-1.3
Transport
0.0
0.1
0.1
-0.1
0.0
Communication
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.1
Recreation and culture
0.7
0.6
0.5
1.6
0.7
Education
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
Insurance and financial services(d)
0.5
0.8
0.6
0.8
0.8
All groups
0.1
-0.4
0.0
-0.1
0.0
(a) Reference base of index: June quarter 1998 =100.0
(b) Re–referenced to base of June quarter 1998 = 100.0
(c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes.
(d) 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.

Table 2: Points contribution to quarterly change, Commodity group, index points – September Quarter 2011 to December Quarter 2011
Weighted average of eight capital cities
Employee ALCI(a)
Age pensioner ALCI(a)
Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a)
Self–funded retiree ALCI(a)
CPI(b)
Food and non–alcoholic beverages
-0.35
-0.71
-0.52
-0.48
-0.37
Alcohol and tobacco
0.10
0.08
0.13
0.07
0.09
Clothing and footwear
-0.05
-0.02
-0.02
-0.02
-0.03
Housing(c)
0.10
0.17
0.32
0.03
0.16
Furnishings, household equipment and services
0.01
-0.03
-0.02
-0.03
0.01
Health
-0.09
-0.34
-0.15
-0.15
-0.10
Transport
0.00
0.02
0.02
-0.01
0.00
Communication
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.04
0.05
Recreation and culture
0.14
0.11
0.08
0.49
0.14
Education
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.01
0.00
Insurance and financial services(d)
0.10
0.05
0.06
0.05
0.06
All groups
0.1
-0.6
0.0
-0.1
0.0
(a) Reference base of index: June quarter 1998 =100.0
(b) Re–referenced to base of June quarter 1998 = 100.0
(c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes.
(d) 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.

Table 3: Contribution to total index, Commodity group, index points – September Quarter 2011 to December Quarter 2011
Employee ALCI(a)
Age pensioner ALCI(a)
Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a)
Self–funded retiree ALCI(a)
CPI(b)
Commodity group
Sep Qtr 2011
Dec Qtr 2011
Sep Qtr 2011
Dec Qtr 2011
Sep Qtr 2011
Dec Qtr 2011
Sep Qtr 2011
Dec Qtr 2011
Sep Qtr 2011
Dec Qtr 2011
Food and non–alcoholic beverages
25.55
25.20
34.01
33.30
29.68
29.16
25.33
24.85
24.76
24.39
Alcohol and tobacco
11.23
11.33
10.27
10.35
15.16
15.29
9.86
9.93
10.47
10.56
Clothing and footwear
6.38
6.33
7.57
7.55
7.62
7.60
6.32
6.30
5.95
5.92
Housing(c)
20.61
20.71
27.12
27.29
36.17
36.49
17.06
17.09
33.47
33.63
Furnishings, household equipment and services
13.97
13.98
16.99
16.96
11.93
11.91
17.31
17.28
13.45
13.46
Health
7.81
7.72
13.18
12.84
4.66
4.51
12.43
12.28
7.72
7.62
Transport
17.77
17.77
14.36
14.38
14.93
14.95
17.00
16.99
17.05
17.05
Communication
4.53
4.58
5.61
5.67
6.44
6.51
4.59
4.63
4.49
4.54
Recreation and culture
19.15
19.29
17.68
17.79
14.63
14.71
31.46
31.95
18.69
18.83
Education
4.40
4.40
0.44
0.44
3.65
3.65
1.30
1.31
4.70
4.70
Insurance and financial services(d)
21.44
21.54
6.31
6.36
10.42
10.48
5.68
5.73
7.54
7.60
All groups
152.8
152.9
153.5
152.9
155.3
155.3
148.4
148.3
148.3
148.3
(a) Reference base of index: June quarter 1998 =100.0
(b) Re–referenced to base of June quarter 1998 = 100.0
(c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes.
(d) 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.

Table 4: Percentage change in Analytical Living Cost Indexes and CPI, Commodity group – December Quarter 2010 to December Quarter 2011
Weighted average of eight capital cities
Employee ALCI(a)
Age pensioner ALCI(a)
Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a)
Self–funded retiree ALCI(a)
CPI(b)
Food and non–alcoholic beverages
2.5
2.7
2.0
3.1
2.8
Alcohol and tobacco
3.1
3.0
4.5
2.9
3.3
Clothing and footwear
2.4
2.0
2.0
2.7
2.8
Housing(c)
5.3
5.8
5.3
5.7
4.3
Furnishings, household equipment and services
0.3
-0.1
-0.1
0.1
0.4
Health
3.8
3.0
1.8
3.9
3.8
Transport
4.2
5.2
5.6
4.2
4.2
Communication
1.6
1.8
1.7
1.8
2.0
Recreation and culture
0.4
0.6
0.1
1.5
0.7
Education
5.8
5.8
5.5
6.1
6.1
Insurance and financial services(d)
5.5
4.8
5.1
4.7
6.0
All groups
3.3
3.0
3.3
3.3
3.1
(a) Reference base of index: June quarter 1998 =100.0
(b) Re–referenced to base of June quarter 1998 = 100.0
(c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes.
(d) 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.


The following tables have been temporarily suspended, until data becomes available to calculate through the year estimates of points contributions and contributions to All Groups:
  • Table 5: Points contribution to annual change, Commodity group, index points
  • Table 6: Contributions to total index, Commodity group, index points