CAPITAL CITIES COMPARISON


ALL GROUPS CPI

At the All groups level, the CPI rose in all capital cities except Darwin this quarter.

The alcohol and tobacco group (+2.8%) is the most significant positive contributor to the All groups quarterly movement, with rises across all eight capital cities. This is driven by a rise in tobacco (+7.4%), due to the flow on effects of the federal excise tax increase effective 1 September 2016.

The transport group (+1.7%) is the second most significant positive contributor to the All groups quarterly movement, with rises across all eight capital cities. This is driven by a rise in automotive fuel (+6.7%), due to a rise in world oil prices.

The food and non-alcoholic beverages group (+0.6%) is the third most significant positive contributor to the All groups quarterly movement, with rises in all eight capital cities. The rise is driven by restaurant meals (+1.1%), as increased input costs, in particular the minimum wage increase and sustained high beef prices are passed on to consumers.

The most significant offsetting negative contributor to the All groups quarterly movement is the furnishings, household equipment and services group (-0.8%), with falls in seven of the eight capital cities. The fall is driven by furniture (-1.5%), due to competition between retailers and lower import prices.

Over the last twelve months to December quarter 2016, the All groups CPI has risen in seven out of eight capital cities, with Sydney (+1.8%) and Canberra (+1.8%) recording the largest positive movements. Darwin (-0.4%) recorded the only negative movement.

All Groups CPI, All groups index numbers and percentage changes
	Index number(a)	Percentage change
	Dec Qtr 2016	Sep Qtr 2016 to Dec Qtr 2016	Dec Qtr 2015 to Dec Qtr 2016
Sydney	110.9	0.5	1.8
Melbourne	109.9	0.7	1.5
Brisbane	110.2	0.5	1.6
Adelaide	108.7	0.3	1.3
Perth	109.0	0.4	0.4
Hobart	108.0	0.8	1.3
Darwin	108.6	-0.1	-0.4
Canberra	107.9	0.6	1.8
Weighted average of eight capital cities	110.0	0.5	1.5
(a) Index reference period: 2011-12 = 100.0.

SYDNEY (+0.5%)

The main contributors to the rise in Sydney this quarter are tobacco (+7.7%), automotive fuel (+5.4%) and domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+5.0%). The rise in domestic holiday travel and accommodation is due to the October school holidays and the lead up to the peak summer holiday period. The rise is partially offset by a fall in international holiday travel and accommodation (-3.3%) due to the northern hemisphere entering low holiday season .


MELBOURNE (+0.7%)

The main contributors to the rise in Melbourne this quarter are tobacco (+7.5%), automotive fuel (+8.3%) and domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+7.0%). Melbourne recorded the largest movement of the capital cities for automotive fuel this quarter. The rise is partially offset by falls in international holiday travel and accommodation (-2.3%), accessories (-5.6%) and gas and other household fuels (-2.7%). The fall in gas and other household fuels is due to the seasonal shift from peak to off-peak pricing for summer.


BRISBANE (+0.5%)

The main contributors to the rise in Brisbane this quarter are tobacco (+8.2%), automotive fuel (+7.6%), domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+5.4%) and insurance (+6.7%). The rise in insurance is due to the introduction of the National Injury Insurance Scheme Queensland (NIISQ) levy being placed on all new and existing Comprehensive Third Party premiums. The rise is partially offset by falls in garments for women (-4.8%) and international holiday travel and accommodation (-2.3%).

ADELAIDE (+0.3%)

The main contributors to the rise in Adelaide this quarter are tobacco (+6.5%), automotive fuel (+6.6%), domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+3.1%) and vegetables (+4.1%). The rise in vegetables is due to adverse weather conditions, including floods in major growing areas, impacting supply. The rise is partially offset by falls in accessories (-7.9%), glassware, tableware and household utensils (-11.0%) and household textiles (-6.5%).


PERTH (+0.4%)

The main contributors to the rise in Perth this quarter are tobacco (+7.1%), automotive fuel (+7.3%) and domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+5.1%). The rise is partially offset by falls in rents (-2.2%), motor vehicles (-2.2%) and international holiday travel and accommodation (-2.4%). The fall in rents is due to an oversupply of rental properties which is leading to high vacancy rates.


HOBART (+0.8%)

The main contributors to the rise in Hobart this quarter are domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+12.1%), tobacco (+6.6%) and vegetables (+9.3%). The rise in domestic holiday travel and accommodation is due to increased demand as a result of Hobart’s increasing popularity as a holiday destination. The rise is partially offset by a fall in international holiday travel and accommodation (-3.5%).


DARWIN (-0.1%)

The main contributors to the fall in Darwin this quarter are domestic holiday travel and accommodation (-8.5%) and rents (-1.8%). The fall in domestic holiday travel and accommodation is due to the low tourist season coinciding with the wet season in Darwin. The fall is partially offset by rises in tobacco (+6.3%) and automotive fuel (+7.5%).


CANBERRA (+0.6%)

The main contributors to the rise in Canberra this quarter are domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+7.7%), tobacco (+7.1%) and automotive fuel (+4.1%). The rise is partially offset by falls in international holiday travel and accommodation (-3.2%) and motor vehicles (-2.2%).