6345.0 - Labour Price Index, Australia, Dec 2010 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/02/2011   
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COMMENTARY


WAGE PRICE INDEXES

Australia/Sector (trend)

In the December quarter 2010, the Private sector wage price index rose by 1.0%, compared to 0.9% for the Public sector, with the All sectors wage price index recording a quarterly movement of 0.9%. This is the second successive quarter in which the Private sector quarterly movement has been greater than that for the Public sector.

While the Public sector movement for the year through to the December quarter 2010 (3.9%) remains above that of the Private sector (3.8%), the gap between the two series has further reduced this quarter.


State/Territory (original)

The highest quarterly movement was recorded by South Australia (1.1%) and the lowest quarterly movement by New South Wales (0.7%). Through the year increases ranged from 3.3% for Tasmania up to 4.2% for Queensland.

In the Private sector, all states and territories recorded equal or higher quarterly growth in the December quarter 2010 than in the December quarter 2009. The highest quarterly increase in the Private sector in the December quarter 2010 was recorded by the Northern Territory (1.4%) and the lowest was recorded by both New South Wales and Tasmania (0.8%).

Through the year movements in the Private sector in all states and territories were higher in the December quarter 2010 than in the September quarter 2010. The Northern Territory (4.7%) recorded the highest Private sector through the year movement of all states and territories in the December quarter 2010 and Tasmania (3.4%) recorded the lowest.

Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia were the only states or territories in which the Public sector quarterly movement for the December quarter 2010 was greater than that for the Private sector. In the Public sector, South Australia (1.7%) recorded the highest quarterly movement of all states and territories in the December quarter 2010 and Queensland (5.0%) recorded the highest through the year movement. New South Wales (0.3%) recorded the lowest quarterly movement and the Northern Territory (2.5%) recorded the lowest through the year movement.


Industry (original)

WPI - Annual and Quarterly changes: original, Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses - Industry, December quarter 2010
Graph: WPI—Annual and Quarterly changes: original, Total hourly rates of pay excluding bonuses—Industry, December quarter 2010


In the December quarter 2010, the highest All sectors quarterly movement was recorded by Electricity, gas, water and waste services (1.5%) and the lowest quarterly movement was recorded by Accommodation and food services (0.3%). Increases through the year ranged from 2.9% for Transport, postal and warehousing to 4.7% for Electricity, gas, water and waste services.

In the Private sector, Arts and recreational services (2.8%) recorded the lowest through the year movement to the December quarter 2010.

In the Public sector, Professional, scientific and technical services (0.5%) recorded the lowest quarterly movement. Through the year to the December quarter 2010, Electricity, gas, water and waste services and Professional, scientific and technical services (5.4%) recorded the highest movement. The lowest through the year movement was recorded by Health care and social assistance (3.1%).