6463.0 - Analytical Living Cost Indexes for Selected Australian Household Types, Mar 2012 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 02/05/2012   
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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 insurance and financial services groups are treated in the ALCIs and CPI. See the Explanatory Notes for further detail.


Employee households

The ALCI for employee households fell 0.4% for the March quarter 2012 mainly due to falls in interest charges, fruit and international holiday travel and accommodation. The major offsetting rises were provided by pharmaceutical products and secondary education.

The ALCI for employee households showed a fall while the CPI (re-referenced) recorded a rise (+0.1%) for the March quarter 2012. The fall in interest charges, which for conceptual reasons is not included in the CPI, contributed to the difference.

The ALCI for employee households rose 1.2% through the year to the March quarter 2012. This is a smaller rise compared to the CPI (re-referenced) rise of 1.6% through the year to the March quarter 2012.


Age pensioner households

The ALCI for age pensioner households rose 0.1% for the March quarter 2012 mainly due to rises in pharmaceutical products, electricity, medical and hospital services and automotive fuel. The major offsetting falls were provided by fruit, international holiday travel and accommodation and furniture.

The ALCI for age pensioner households recorded the same rise as the CPI (re-referenced) for the March quarter 2012. Age pensioner households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on health than the CPI population, which recorded a rise this quarter. This was largely offset by a fall in food and non-alcoholic beverages for which age pensioner households have a relatively higher expenditure.

The ALCI for age pensioner households rose 1.1% through the year to the March quarter 2012. This is a smaller rise compared to the CPI (re-referenced) rise of 1.6% through the year to the March quarter 2012.


Other government transfer recipient households

The ALCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 0.1% for the March quarter 2012 mainly due to rises in pharmaceutical products, rents, tobacco and electricity. The major offsetting falls were provided by fruit, interest charges and furniture.

The ALCI for other government transfer recipient households showed the same rise as the CPI (re-referenced) for the March quarter 2012. Other government transfer recipient households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on housing which recorded a rise this quarter. The cyclical reduction in the proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidised medications under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at the start of each calendar year also contributed to rises in health. This was largely offset by falls in food and non-alcoholic beverages and insurance and financial services, for which other government transfer recipient households have a relatively higher expenditure.

The ALCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 1.6% through the year to the March quarter 2012. This is a same rise as the CPI (re-referenced) rise of 1.6% through the year to the March quarter 2012.


Self-funded retiree households

The ALCI for self-funded retiree households fell 0.5% for the March quarter 2012 mainly due to falls in fruit, international holiday travel and accommodation and domestic holiday travel and accommodation. The major offsetting falls were provided by pharmaceutical products, automotive fuel and medical and hospital services.

The ALCI for self-funded retiree households showed a fall while the CPI (re-referenced) recorded a rise (+0.1%) for the March quarter 2012. Self-funded retiree households have a higher proportion of expenditure on recreation and culture and food and non-alcoholic beverages relative to the CPI population, both of which recorded falls this quarter.

The ALCI for self-funded retiree households rose 1.3% through the year to the March quarter 2012. This is a smaller rise compared to the CPI (re-referenced) rise of 1.6% through the year to the March quarter 2012.


GRAPHS

Graph 1: Index numbers for Employee households, All Groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph: Graph 1: Index numbers for Employee households, All Groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0


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


Graph 3: Index numbers for Other government transfer recipient households, All Groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph: Graph 3: Index numbers for Other government transfer recipient households, All Groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0


Graph 4: Index numbers for Self-funded retiree households, All Groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph: Graph 4: Index numbers for Self–funded retiree households, All Groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0


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 - December Quarter 2011 to March Quarter 2012

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
-2.0
-3.2
-2.4
-2.9
-2.2
Alcohol and tobacco
1.4
1.3
1.7
1.3
1.4
Clothing and footwear
-1.7
-2.1
-2.5
-1.6
-1.8
Housing(c)
0.9
1.3
1.2
0.7
0.6
Furnishings, household equipment and services
-1.0
-1.0
-0.8
-1.2
-1.1
Health
4.2
8.1
9.9
4.4
4.4
Transport
1.1
1.3
1.2
0.9
1.1
Communication
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
Recreation and culture
-1.8
-1.7
-1.5
-2.2
-1.9
Education
6.1
6.5
6.3
6.1
6.0
Insurance and financial services(d)
-2.9
-0.1
-2.3
-0.3
1.0
All groups
-0.4
0.1
0.1
-0.5
0.1

(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.

Table 2: Points contribution to quarterly change, Commodity group, index points - December Quarter 2011 to March Quarter 2012

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
-0.50
-1.06
-0.70
-0.72
-0.52
Alcohol and tobacco
0.16
0.15
0.26
0.13
0.15
Clothing and footwear
-0.10
-0.16
-0.18
-0.11
-0.11
Housing(c)
0.19
0.35
0.46
0.11
0.20
Furnishings, household equipment and services
-0.13
-0.17
-0.10
-0.20
-0.14
Health
0.33
1.03
0.44
0.53
0.34
Transport
0.20
0.17
0.18
0.16
0.18
Communication
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.01
0.00
Recreation and culture
-0.35
-0.31
-0.21
-0.68
-0.36
Education
0.27
0.02
0.23
0.08
0.28
Insurance and financial services(d)
-0.62
-0.01
-0.23
-0.01
0.07
All groups
-0.6
0.1
0.1
-0.7
0.1

(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.

Table 3: Contribution to total index, Commodity group, index points - December Quarter 2011 to March Quarter 2012

Employee ALCI(a)
Age pensioner ALCI(a)
Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a)
Self-funded retiree ALCI(a)
CPI(b)
Commodity group
Dec Qtr 2011
Mar Qtr 2012
Dec Qtr 2011
Mar Qtr 2012
Dec Qtr 2011
Mar Qtr 2012
Dec Qtr 2011
Mar Qtr 2012
Dec Qtr 2011
Mar Qtr 2012

Food and non-alcoholic beverages
25.20
24.70
33.30
32.24
29.16
28.46
24.85
24.13
24.39
23.87
Alcohol and tobacco
11.33
11.49
10.35
10.50
15.29
15.55
9.93
10.06
10.56
10.71
Clothing and footwear
6.33
6.23
7.55
7.39
7.60
7.42
6.30
6.19
5.92
5.81
Housing(c)
20.71
20.90
27.29
27.64
36.49
36.95
17.09
17.20
33.63
33.83
Furnishings, household equipment and services
13.98
13.85
16.96
16.79
11.91
11.81
17.28
17.08
13.46
13.32
Health
7.72
8.05
12.84
13.87
4.51
4.95
12.28
12.81
7.62
7.96
Transport
17.77
17.97
14.38
14.55
14.95
15.13
16.99
17.15
17.05
17.24
Communication
4.58
4.58
5.67
5.67
6.51
6.51
4.63
4.64
4.54
4.55
Recreation and culture
19.29
18.94
17.79
17.48
14.71
14.50
31.95
31.27
18.83
18.47
Education
4.40
4.67
0.44
0.46
3.65
3.88
1.31
1.39
4.70
4.98
Insurance and financial services(d)
21.54
20.92
6.36
6.35
10.48
10.25
5.73
5.72
7.60
7.67
All groups
152.9
152.3
152.9
153.0
155.3
155.4
148.3
147.6
148.3
148.4

(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 - March Quarter 2011 to March Quarter 2012

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
-2.3
-4.0
-3.4
-3.2
-2.4
Alcohol and tobacco
3.4
3.3
4.7
3.1
3.5
Clothing and footwear
1.6
1.0
0.8
1.6
1.6
Housing(c)
4.9
5.4
4.9
5.2
3.4
Furnishings, household equipment and services
0.7
0.1
0.5
0.3
0.7
Health
4.4
4.7
4.4
4.5
4.1
Transport
2.5
3.1
3.1
2.2
2.4
Communication
1.6
1.8
1.6
1.7
1.5
Recreation and culture
-0.9
-0.6
-0.7
0.2
-0.9
Education
6.1
6.6
6.5
6.2
6.1
Insurance and financial services(d)
-0.8
2.6
0.1
2.2
4.0
All groups
1.2
1.1
1.6
1.3
1.6

(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