Consumer Price Index, Australia

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The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures household inflation and includes statistics about price change for categories of household expenditure.

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Reference period
March Quarter 2024
Released
24/04/2024
  • Next Release 31/07/2024
    Consumer Price Index, Australia, June Quarter 2024
  • Next Release 30/10/2024
    Consumer Price Index, Australia, September Quarter 2024
  • Next Release 29/01/2025
    Consumer Price Index, Australia, December Quarter 2024
  • View all releases

Key statistics

  • The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.0% this quarter.
  • Over the twelve months to the March 2024 quarter, the CPI rose 3.6%.
  • The most significant price rises this quarter were Rents (+2.1%), Secondary education (+6.1%), Tertiary education (+6.5%) and Medical and hospital services (+2.3%).

What's new this quarter

Monthly CPI Indicator

Design of a complete monthly CPI

  • At the end of 2023, the ABS undertook a public consultation on the proposed complete monthly CPI publication design. The public consultation sought formal submissions on this proposed design covering key areas such as release timing, data requirements, publication specifics, and methodologies. A summary of submissions and the complete monthly CPI design are available on the ‘We asked, You said, We did’ page of the Consultation Hub.

Annual update to CPI weights

Private rent inflation: capital cities vs regions.

Main features

Weighted average of eight capital cities
 Dec Qtr 2023 to Mar Qtr 2024Mar Qtr 2023 to Mar Qtr 2024
% change% change
All groups CPI1.03.6
Food and non-alcoholic beverages0.93.8
Alcohol and tobacco0.96.3
Clothing and footwear-1.10.4
Housing0.74.9
Furnishings, household equipment and services-0.10.2
Health2.84.1
Transport0.53.6
Communication-0.31.8
Recreation and culture-0.10.2
Education5.95.2
Insurance and financial services2.08.2
CPI analytical series
 All groups CPI, seasonally adjusted0.93.6
 Trimmed mean1.04.0
 Weighted median1.14.4

Overview

Annual CPI inflation continues to ease in the March quarter

Annual CPI inflation was 3.6 per cent in the March 2024 quarter, lower than the 4.1 per cent annual rise in the previous quarter. This marks the fifth consecutive quarter of lower annual inflation since the peak of 7.8 per cent in the December 2022 quarter. Trimmed mean annual inflation of 4.0 per cent was also lower in the March quarter compared to the previous quarter of 4.2 per cent and the peak in December 2022 of 6.8 per cent.

Goods and Services annual inflation both lower

Annual inflation for goods this quarter was 3.1 per cent. This is the sixth consecutive quarter of lower annual inflation for goods, down from the peak of 9.6 per cent in the September 2022 quarter. Annual inflation for most goods eased in the March 2024 quarter, with some goods, such as footwear, furniture, appliances and meat and seafood products seeing deflation, meaning their prices are lower compared to 12 months ago. Annual services inflation eased for the third consecutive quarter to 4.3 per cent, down from the peak of 6.3 per cent in the June 2023 quarter. 

Non-tradables inflation remains higher than Tradables

Non-tradables includes goods and services that are mostly influenced by domestic factors. Annual inflation for Non-tradables was 5.0 per cent, down from 5.4 per cent in the December 2023 quarter. Price rises for rents, new dwelling purchases by owner occupiers, education, insurance and tobacco contributed to the annual rise.

Annual inflation for Tradables is significantly lower at 0.9 per cent, compared to a rise of 1.5 per cent in the December 2023 quarter and down from the peak of 8.7 per cent in 2022. Deflation, where prices are lower compared to 12 months ago, has been seen in imported goods including footwear, clothing accessories, furniture and household appliances.

Strongest annual rise in rental price growth since 2009

Rental prices rose 7.8 per cent annually, the strongest rise since the March 2009 quarter. Rental price growth continues to reflect low vacancy rates and a tight rental market. 

The rate of growth in rental prices is moderated by changes to Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA), with rent assistance rates updated by CPI indexation on 20 March and 20 September each year. In addition, last September significant changes were made to the CRA with the maximum rate available for CRA increasing by 15 per cent. Excluding these changes to CRA, rents would have increased by 9.5 per cent over the 12 months to the March 2024 quarter. 

Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates continue to reduce electricity bills

Electricity prices fell 1.7 per cent in the March 2024 quarter, following a rise of 1.4 per cent in the December 2023 quarter. Annually, electricity prices have increased 2.0 per cent, down from a 6.9 per cent increase in the 12 months to December 2023. 

The introduction of the Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates from July 2023 has moderated the increase in electricity bills for households. Electricity prices have risen 3.9 per cent since the June 2023 quarter. Excluding the Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates, prices would have increased by 17.0 per cent over this period. 

The following graph shows the introduction of various electricity rebates and the impact these changes had on the electricity series in the CPI. 

Strongest annual growth in insurance premiums in 23 years

Insurance prices rose 16.4 per cent annually, which is the strongest annual rise since 2001. 

Higher reinsurance, natural disaster and claims costs continue to drive higher premiums for house, home contents and motor vehicle insurance. 

Annual food inflation eases for the fifth consecutive quarter

Annual food inflation eased to 3.8 per cent in the March quarter, down from 4.5 per cent in the previous quarter and the peak of 9.2 per cent in December 2022. Over the past 12 months, prices have risen for bread and cereal products, dairy products and other food products such as condiments, albeit at a lower annual rate than in previous quarters.  

Meat and seafood prices fell 1.6 per cent compared to 12 months ago, which is the first annual fall in Meat and seafood since 2013. Price falls for lamb and goat (-16.8 per cent) and beef and veal (-5.8 per cent) offset price rises in pork, seafood and chicken.

Increase in education fees highest in 12 years

The Education group, which covers primary, secondary and tertiary education, recorded the largest rise since 2012. Fees are collected once a year at the beginning of the school year. The rise was driven by higher primary and secondary school fees, as well as tertiary education following the indexation of higher education course fees.

Main contributors to change

CPI groups

Food and non-alcoholic beverages group (+0.9%)

  • The main contributors to the rise were Non-alcoholic beverages (+3.4%), Fruit and vegetables (+2.5%) and Food products n.e.c. (+1.9%).
  • Offsetting the rise was a fall in Meat and seafood (-0.7%).

Over the past twelve months, the group rose 3.8%. Meals out and take away foods (+5.3%) was the main contributor. 

Alcohol and tobacco group (+0.9%)

  • The main contributor to the rise was Alcoholic beverages (+0.8%). Beer (+1.2%) and Spirits (+1.0%) rose following the alcohol excise increase of 1.8% on 5 February 2024.
  • Tobacco (+1.2%) recorded a quarterly rise with the bi-annual AWOTE indexation applied on 1 March 2024.

Over the past twelve months, the group rose 6.3%. The main contributors were Tobacco (+11.3%) and Beer (+6.3%).

Clothing and footwear group (-1.1%)

  • The main contributors to the fall were Garments (-0.6%), Footwear (-2.7%) and Accessories and Clothing Services (-2.0%), driven by back to school and New Year promotional activity. 

Over the past twelve months, the group rose 0.4%. Garments for men (+2.4%) was the main contributor.

Housing group (+0.7%)

Rents

  • Rents rose 2.1% this quarter, an increase from the December 2023 quarter rise of 0.9%. The rise last quarter was moderated by the impact of changes to Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) from 20 September 2023. 
  • This quarter, CRA increased from 20 March 2024 due to the usual biannual indexation. An increase in CRA reduces the out-of-pocket rental cost for CRA recipients. Given the timing of these changes, the indexation did not have a material impact on rental price growth. The remaining impact of the CRA increase will be reflected in the June 2024 quarter.
  • Rental price growth continues to reflect strong demand and low vacancy rates across most capital cities. Rental price growth for flats continues to outpace price growth for houses. 
  • Rental prices rose 7.8% annually, the strongest annual rise since March 2009. 

New dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers

  • New dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers rose 1.1% as builders continue to pass on higher labour and building material costs.
  • The rate of price growth for new dwellings remains lower compared to the rises seen in 2022, due to weaker new demand and costs for building materials easing.

Utilities

  • Utilities fell 1.4%, driven by Electricity (-1.7%) and Gas and other household fuels (-1.5%). 
  • The fall in Electricity prices was driven by the second instalment of the Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates in Perth reducing electricity bills for households this quarter. 
  • Excluding the rebates, Electricity prices would have fallen 0.4% this quarter due to retailers in some capital cities reducing supply and usage charges and increasing discounts for some market offer plans. 
  • Gas and other household fuel prices fell 1.5% due to retailers increasing discounts and reducing supply and usage charges for some market offer plans. 

Over the past twelve months the group rose 4.9%. This is the lowest annual rise since the December 2021 quarter. The main contributor to the annual rise was Rents (+7.8%) and New dwelling purchase by owner occupiers (+5.0%).     

Furnishings, household equipment and services group (-0.1%)

  • Furniture (-5.6%) was the main contributor to the fall.
  • Child care (+3.9%) and Hairdressing and personal grooming services (+2.1%) partially offset the fall. 

Over the past twelve months, the group rose 0.2%. Hairdressing and personal grooming services (+7.1%) was the largest contributor.

Health group (+2.8%)

  • Medical and hospital services (+2.3%) and Pharmaceutical products (+7.1%) rose as a result of the cyclical reduction in the proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidies under the Medicare Safety Net and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The safety net thresholds for both the PBS and Medicare are reset on 1 January each year.

Over the past twelve months the group rose 4.1%. Medical and hospital services (+4.5%) was the main contributor.

Transport group (+0.5%)

  • The main contributors to the rise were Motor Vehicles (+1.0%), Spare parts and accessories for motor vehicles (+3.1%) and Other services in respect of motor vehicles (+1.3%). 
  • Automotive fuel (-1.0%) partially offset the rise.
  • Quarterly average unleaded petrol prices fell to $1.94 per litre, which is 2 cents lower than the December quarter.

Over the past twelve months, the group rose 3.6%. Automotive fuel (+5.2%), and Maintenance and repair of motor vehicle (+4.3%) were the main contributors.

Communication group (-0.3%)

  • Telecommunication equipment and services fell 0.3%.
  • Postal services (+0.9%) partially offset the fall. 

Over the past twelve months, the group rose 1.8%. Telecommunication equipment and services (+1.1%) and Postal services (+15.4%) were the main contributors.

Recreation and culture group (-0.1%)

  • International holiday travel and accommodation (-5.9%) was the main contributor to the fall due to lower demand following the peak December holiday period.
  • A rise in Other recreation, sport and culture (+2.9%) and Domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+1.3%) partially offset the fall.

Over the past twelve months the group rose 0.2%. Other recreation, sport and culture (+4.5%) was the main contributor, partially offset by Holiday travel and accommodation (-3.9%).

Education group (+5.9%)

  • Tertiary education rose 6.5% due to the annual CPI indexation being applied to tertiary education fees at the start of the year. This was partially offset by TAFE fees as the federal government, in partnership with state and territory governments, provided additional fee-free TAFE places in 2024. 
  • Secondary education (+6.1%) and Preschool and primary education (+4.3%) rose following the commencement of the new school year. The rise in preschool and primary education was partially offset by a fall in preschool fees in some States, driven by the Queensland government's 'Free Kindy' program.

Over the past twelve months, the group rose 5.2%. Tertiary education (+7.0%) and Secondary education (+6.1%) were the main contributors.

Insurance and financial services group (+2.0%)

  • Insurance rose 3.7%, with rises in premiums across motor vehicle, house and house contents insurance reflecting higher reinsurance, natural disaster and claims costs. 
  • Other financial services (+1.6%) rose due to higher real estate fees. 

Over the past twelve months the group rose 8.2%. Insurance (+16.4%) was the main contributor, recording the strongest annual rise since the March 2001 quarter. 

International trade exposure - tradables and non-tradables

The Tradables and Non–tradables series measure the contribution of goods and services that are highly exposed to international trade influences (tradables), and those that are mostly influenced by domestic factors (non–tradables), to overall household inflation. Examples of tradables include automotive fuel, most food items, and clothing and footwear. Examples of non–tradables include housing and education.

  • Non-tradables rose 1.5% due to Rents (+2.1%), Child care (+3.9%), Secondary education (+6.1%), Tertiary education (+6.5%) and Insurance (+3.7%). 
  • Tradables fell 0.2% due to International holiday travel and accommodation (-5.9%), Furniture (-5.6%) and Automotive fuel (-1.0%).             

In seasonally adjusted terms, the Non–tradables component of the All groups CPI rose 1.3% and the Tradables component rose 0.2%.

Discretionary and non-discretionary inflation

Non-discretionary inflation includes goods and services that households are less likely to reduce their consumption of, such as food, automotive fuel, housing and health costs. Discretionary goods and services may be considered 'optional' purchases.

  • Discretionary goods and services rose 0.5% through the quarter, and 2.9% through the year. The rise this quarter was driven by Tertiary education (+6.5%), Domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+1.3%) and  Water, soft drinks and juices (+4.2%). 
  • Non-discretionary goods and services rose 1.3% through the quarter, and 4.2% through the year. The rise this quarter was driven by Rents (+2.1%), Secondary education (+6.1%), Medical and hospital services (+2.3%), Pharmaceuticals (+7.1%), Child care (+3.9%) and Insurance (+3.7%).

Underlying inflation series

The Trimmed mean and the Weighted median provide measures of underlying inflation. These measures reduce the impact of irregular or temporary price changes in the CPI. For more information see Underlying Inflation Measures: Explaining the Trimmed Mean and Weighted Median.

In the March 2024 quarter:

  • The trimmed mean rose 1.0%, following a rise of 0.8% in the December 2023 quarter.
  • Over the past twelve months, the trimmed mean rose 4.0%, following a rise of 4.2% over the twelve months to the December 2023 quarter.
  • The weighted median rose 1.1%, following a rise of 0.9% in the December 2023 quarter.
  • Over the past twelve months, the weighted median rose 4.4%, following a rise of 4.4% over the twelve months to the December 2023 quarter.

Seasonally adjusted analytical series

Seasonal adjustment is the process by which regular, calendar related effects are removed from the original series.

  • All groups CPI seasonally adjusted rose 0.9% for the quarter.
Dec Qtr 2023 to Mar Qtr 2024 percentage change
 Original (%)Seasonally Adjusted (%)
All groups CPI1.00.9
Food and non-alcoholic beverages0.90.4
Alcohol and tobacco0.90.7
Clothing and footwear-1.10.4
Housing0.71.0
Furnishings, household equipment and services-0.10.9
Health2.81.4
Transport0.50.5
Communication-0.3-0.3
Recreation and culture-0.10.7
Education5.93.4
Insurance and financial services2.01.8
International trade exposure series  
 Tradables-0.20.2
 Non-tradables1.51.3

A detailed explanation of the seasonal adjustment of the All Groups CPI and calculation of the Trimmed mean and Weighted median measures is available in Information Paper: Seasonal Adjustment of Consumer Price Indexes, 2011 (cat. no. 6401.0.55.003). Revisions to the seasonally adjusted estimates can be the result of the application of concurrent seasonal adjustment, described on the methodology page.

Capital cities comparison

All groups CPI

All groups CPI, index numbers and percentage changes
 Index number(a)Percentage change (%)
 Mar Qtr 2024Dec Qtr 2023 to Mar Qtr 2024Mar Qtr 2023 to Mar Qtr 2024
Sydney137.71.03.8
Melbourne137.51.03.6
Brisbane139.21.13.4
Adelaide138.10.74.3
Perth134.80.63.4
Hobart138.11.03.1
Darwin132.40.73.3
Canberra135.61.03.3
Weighted average of eight capital cities137.41.03.6

a. Index reference period: 2011-12 = 100.0.

Capital city highlights:

At the All groups level, the CPI rose in all capital cities, ranging from 0.6% in Perth to 1.1% in Brisbane.

 

Sydney (+1.0%)

  • Rents (+2.0%).
  • Secondary education (+6.8%).
  • Medical and hospital services (+2.1%). 
  • Tertiary education (+6.0%).
  • International holiday travel and accommodation (-4.9%).

Sydney recorded an annual rise of 3.8%.

Melbourne (+1.0%)

  • Tertiary education (+6.9%).
  • Secondary education (+6.0%).
  • Medical and hospital services (+2.4%).
  • Rents (+2.0%).
  • International holiday travel and accommodation (-6.0%).

Melbourne recorded an annual rise of 3.6%.

Brisbane (+1.1%)

  • Rents (+2.6%).
  • Medical and hospital services (+3.1%).
  • Secondary education (+7.4%).
  • Tertiary education (+6.7%).
  • International holiday travel and accommodation (-7.3%).

Brisbane recorded an annual rise of 3.4%. 

Adelaide (+0.7%)

  • Rents (+2.2%).
  • Tertiary education (+6.2%).
  • Insurance (+7.0%).
  • New dwelling purchase by owner occupiers (+1.0%).
  • International holiday travel and accommodation (-5.9%).

Adelaide recorded an annual rise of 4.3%.

Perth (+0.6%)

  • New dwelling purchase by owner occupiers (+3.6%).
  • Rents (+2.9%).
  • Medical and hospital services (+2.0%).
  • Secondary education (+4.7%).
  • Electricity (-18.1%).
  • International holiday travel and accommodation (-5.9%).

Perth recorded an annual rise of 3.4%.           

Hobart (+1.0%)

  • New dwelling purchase by owner occupiers (+2.1%).
  • Domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+3.4%).
  • Tertiary education (+7.5%).
  • Spare parts and accessories for motor vehicles (+6.0%).
  • International holiday travel and accommodation (-9.1%).

Hobart recorded an annual rise of 3.1%.

Darwin (+0.7%)

  • Secondary education (+9.6%).
  • Medical and hospital services (+2.5%).
  • Vegetables (+5.2%).
  • Electricity (+3.5%).
  • International holiday travel and accommodation (-8.1%).

Darwin recorded an annual rise of 3.3%.

Canberra (+1.0%)

  • Secondary education (+7.9%).
  • Medical and hospital services (+3.7%).
  • New dwelling purchase by owner occupiers (+2.5%).
  • Vegetables (+8.1%).
  • International holiday travel and accommodation (-6.9%).

Canberra recorded an annual rise of 3.3%.

Quarterly percentage change by capital city
GroupSydneyMelbourneBrisbaneAdelaidePerthHobartDarwinCanberraWeighted average of eight capital cities
All groups1.01.01.10.70.61.00.71.01.0
Food & non-alcoholic beverages0.81.00.90.80.90.91.11.20.9
Alcohol & tobacco1.10.41.30.41.21.60.81.20.9
Clothing & footwear-1.2-1.6-0.3-1.7-1.00.20.5-1.4-1.1
Housing0.70.71.41.20.01.10.90.50.7
Furnishings, household equipment and services-0.2-0.81.0-0.40.2-0.10.1-0.1-0.1
Health2.83.13.31.92.31.92.93.82.8
Transport0.90.80.70.0-0.70.7-0.80.80.5
Communication-0.3-0.3-0.4-0.4-0.4-0.3-0.4-0.3-0.3
Recreation & culture-0.20.5-0.6-0.3-0.30.1-1.5-0.6-0.1
Education6.26.25.44.35.06.17.77.65.9
Insurance & financial services2.12.01.32.92.30.91.90.12.0

Selected tables - capital cities

All groups CPI, index numbers(a)

All groups CPI, Index numbers(a)
PeriodSydneyMelbourneBrisbaneAdelaidePerthHobartDarwinCanberraWeighted average of eight capital cities
2024 March137.7137.5139.2138.1134.8138.1132.4135.6137.4
2023 December 136.4136.1137.7137.1134.0136.8131.5134.3136.1
2023 September135.8135.3137.0136.2132.0135.8130.9133.7135.3
2023 June134.0133.5136.0133.9131.5134.6129.7132.7133.7
2023 March132.7132.7134.6132.4130.4134.0128.2131.3132.6
2022 December130.9131.1132.1130.8129.3132.4126.6129.5130.8
2022 September128.6129.0130.2128.6124.8130.5125.5128.0128.4
2022 June125.7126.4127.9125.3125.4127.6123.2125.6126.1
2022 March123.7124.2125.3122.7123.3125.4120.7123.6123.9
2021 December121.6121.4122.6120.4119.4122.9118.2120.9121.3
2021 September120.2120.1120.7118.6117.7120.2117.3119.7119.7
2021 June119.4119.1119.2117.8116.8119.8115.6118.2118.8
2021 March118.5118.8118.2117.2114.6118.5114.4117.3117.9
2020 December118.0118.4117.5116.5113.0117.6111.5116.3117.2
2020 September116.8116.7116.2115.7114.1116.7110.8115.4116.2
2020 June114.7115.7113.6114.6112.1115.6109.0112.8114.4
2020 March117.4117.8116.2115.8113.5117.2111.8115.5116.6
2019 December117.1116.9116.3115.4113.1116.7111.5115.0116.2
2019 September116.5115.9115.5114.5112.6114.7111.3114.3115.4
2019 June115.9115.3114.8113.7112.0114.1111.0113.5114.8
2022-23131.6131.6133.2131.4129.0132.9127.5130.4131.4
2021-22122.8123.0124.1121.8121.5124.0119.9122.5122.8
2020-21118.2118.3117.8116.8114.6118.2113.1116.8117.5

a. Unless otherwise specified, reference period of each index: 2011-12 = 100.0.

All groups CPI, percentage changes

Percentage change (from previous financial year)
PeriodSydneyMelbourneBrisbaneAdelaidePerthHobartDarwinCanberraWeighted average of eight capital cities
2022-237.16.97.37.96.27.16.46.57.0
2021-223.94.05.44.26.05.06.04.84.4
2020-211.51.42.11.51.61.82.02.11.6
Percentage change (from corresponding quarter of previous year)
PeriodSydneyMelbourneBrisbaneAdelaidePerthHobartDarwinCanberraWeighted average of eight capital cities
2024 March3.83.63.44.33.43.13.33.33.6
2023 December4.23.84.24.83.63.33.93.74.1
2023 September5.64.95.25.95.84.14.34.55.4
2023 June6.65.66.36.94.95.55.35.76.0
2023 March7.36.87.47.95.86.96.26.27.0
2022 December7.68.07.78.68.37.77.17.17.8
2022 September7.07.47.98.46.08.67.06.97.3
2022 June5.36.17.36.47.46.56.66.36.1
2022 March4.44.56.04.77.65.85.55.45.1
2021 December3.12.54.33.35.74.56.04.03.5
2021 September2.92.93.92.53.23.05.93.73.0
2021 June4.12.94.92.84.23.66.14.83.8
2021 March0.90.81.71.21.01.12.31.61.1
2020 December0.81.31.01.0-0.10.80.01.10.9
2020 September0.30.70.61.01.31.7-0.41.00.7
2020 June-1.00.3-1.00.80.11.3-1.8-0.6-0.3
2020 March2.02.71.82.42.13.41.52.02.2
2019 December1.62.02.02.11.62.70.51.71.8
Percentage change (from previous quarter)
PeriodSydneyMelbourneBrisbaneAdelaidePerthHobartDarwinCanberraWeighted average of eight capital cities
2024 March1.01.01.10.70.61.00.71.01.0
2023 December0.40.60.50.71.50.70.50.40.6
2023 September1.31.30.71.70.40.90.90.81.2
2023 June1.00.61.01.10.80.41.21.10.8
2023 March1.41.21.91.20.91.21.31.41.4
2022 December1.81.61.51.73.61.50.91.21.9
2022 September2.32.11.82.6-0.52.31.91.91.8
2022 June1.61.82.12.11.71.82.11.61.8
2022 March1.72.32.21.93.32.02.12.22.1
2021 December1.21.11.61.51.42.20.81.01.3
2021 September0.70.81.30.70.80.31.51.30.8
2021 June0.80.30.80.51.91.11.00.80.8
2021 March0.40.30.60.61.40.82.60.90.6
2020 December1.01.51.10.7-1.00.80.60.80.9
2020 September1.80.92.31.01.81.01.72.31.6
2020 June-2.3-1.8-2.2-1.0-1.2-1.4-2.5-2.3-1.9
2020 March0.30.8-0.10.30.40.40.30.40.3
2019 December0.50.90.70.80.41.70.20.60.7

Longer term series: All groups CPI, weighted average of eight capital cities, index numbers

All groups CPI, weighted average of eight capital cities, index numbers
 31 March no.30 June no.30 September no.31 December no.
2024137.4   
2023132.6133.7135.3136.1
2022123.9126.1128.4130.8
2021117.9118.8119.7121.3
2020116.6114.4116.2117.2
2019114.1114.8115.4116.2
2018112.6113.0113.5114.1
2017110.5110.7111.4112.1
2016108.2108.6109.4110.0
2015106.8107.5108.0108.4
2014105.4105.9106.4106.6
2013102.4102.8104.0104.8
201299.9100.4101.8102.0
201198.399.299.899.8
201095.295.896.596.9
200992.592.993.894.3
200890.391.692.792.4
200786.687.788.389.1
200684.585.986.786.6
200582.182.683.483.8
200480.280.680.981.5
200378.678.679.179.5
200276.176.677.177.6
200173.974.574.775.4
200069.770.272.973.1
199967.868.168.769.1
199867.067.467.567.8
199767.166.966.666.8
199666.266.766.967.0
199563.864.765.566.0
199461.561.962.362.8
199360.660.861.161.2
199259.959.759.860.1
199158.959.059.359.9
199056.257.157.559.0
198951.753.054.255.2
198848.449.350.251.2
198745.346.046.847.6
198641.442.143.244.4

a. nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)

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  • TABLES 1 and 2. CPI: All Groups, Index Numbers and Percentage Changes

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  • TABLES 3 and 4. CPI: Groups, Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities, Index Numbers and Percentage Changes

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  • TABLE 5. CPI: Groups, Index Numbers by Capital City

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  • TABLE 6. CPI: Group, Sub-group and Expenditure Class Contribution to Change in All Groups Indexes, by Capital City

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  • TABLE 7. CPI: Group, Sub-group and Expenditure Class, Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities

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  • TABLE 8. CPI: Analytical Series, Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities

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  • TABLE 9. CPI: Group, Sub-group and Expenditure Class, Index Numbers by Capital City

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  • TABLE 10. CPI: Group, Sub-group and Expenditure Class, Percentage change from corresponding quarter of previous year by Capital City

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  • TABLE 11. CPI: Group, Sub-group and Expenditure Class, Percentage change from previous quarter by Capital City

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  • TABLE 12. CPI: Group, Sub-group and Expenditure Class, Points Contribution, by Capital City

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  • TABLE 13. CPI: Group, Expenditure Class and Selected Analytical Series Index Numbers, Seasonally adjusted, Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities

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  • TABLE 14. CPI: Expenditure Class, Combined seasonal adjustment factors, Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities

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Article archive

CPI feature articles

Private rent inflation: capital cities vs regions, March quarter 2024

Australia Dietary Guidelines Price Index, December quarter 2023

What changes in prices and their collection tell us about Australia, November 2023

CPI International Comparisons, May 2023

New insights into the rental market, April 2023

FAQs about the measurement of housing in the CPI and Living Cost Indexes, October 2021

Measuring Non-discretionary and Discretionary Inflation, May 2021

Automotive fuel in the CPI, March 2021

Non-Discretionary and Discretionary Inflation, November 2020

Web scraping in the Australian CPI, March quarter 2020

Quality Change in the Australian CPI, December 2019

Underlying Inflation Measures: Explaining the Trimmed Mean and Weighted Median, April 2019 (Chief Economist Series)

70 Years of Inflation in Australia, October 2018 (Chief Economist Series)

70 years of the Australian Consumer Price Index, September quarter 2018

The Australian CPI: A Contemporary Measure of Household Inflation, September quarter 2017

The average size and proportion of price changes in the CPI, September quarter 2017

What role does housing play in the Consumer Price Index and Selected Living Cost Indexes?, March quarter 2017

Potential Impact of Tropical Cyclone Debbie on the CPI, March quarter 2017

Consumer spending patterns and price change: How does electricity compare?, March quarter 2017

Measuring Price Change of Attached Dwellings in the CPI, December quarter 2016

Review of the Consumer Price Index International Trade Exposure Series, September quarter 2016

CPI enhancements

Design of a complete monthly Consumer Price Index, November 2023

Introducing a monthly CPI indicator for Australia, August 2022

An update on the Annual Re-weighting of the Australian CPI and Living Cost Indexes, August 2018

Towards an Australian Monthly CPI, June 2018 (Chief Economist Series)

An Implementation Plan to Annually Re-weight the Australian CPI, June 2017

An Implementation Plan to Maximise the Use of Transactions Data in the CPI, June 2017

Making Greater Use of Transactions Data to compile the Consumer Price Index, November 2016

Increasing the Frequency of CPI Expenditure Class Weight Updates, July 2016

Enhancing the Australian CPI: A roadmap, August 2015

The Use of Transactions Data to Compile the Australian Consumer Price Index, September quarter 2013

CPI weight updates

2024 weight update of the CPI and Living Cost Indexes, March 2024

2022 weight update of the CPI and Selected Living Cost Indexes (SLCIs), December 2022

2021 weight update of the CPI and Living Cost Indexes, December 2021

The 2020 annual re-weight of the Australian Consumer Price Index, December 2020

The 2019 annual re-weight of the Australian Consumer Price Index, December 2019

The 2018 annual re-weight of the Australian Consumer Price Index, December 2018

Response to COVID-19

Update to measuring the CPI in the September 2021 quarter, October 2021

Update to measuring the CPI in the December 2020 quarter, January 2021

Measuring the Consumer Price Index: September 2020 quarter update, October 2020

Measuring the Consumer Price Index during a time of COVID-19, July 2020

Note on the impact of COVID-19 on the Consumer Price Index, March quarter 2020

CPI 17th series review

Consumer Price Index: Correspondence with 2015-16 Household Expenditure Classification 2017, January 2018

Consumer Price Index: Historical Weighting Patterns, 1948-2017, January 2018

A Guide to the Consumer Price Index: 17th Series 2017, January 2018

Consumer Price Index: 17th Series Weighting Pattern, November 2017

Information Paper: Introduction of the 17th Series Australian Consumer Price Index, 2017, November 2017

Measuring Rents in the CPI

New data source:

  • As outlined in the ABS’ information paper Introducing a monthly CPI indicator for Australia, from July 2022 the ABS has incorporated a new data source to measure the Rents series in the monthly CPI indicator and the quarterly CPI.
  • The Rents series prior to July 2022 was measured on a quarterly basis using a survey of approximately 4,000 rental properties collected directly from real estate agents.
  • The new dataset obtained by the ABS is updated monthly and includes approximately 480,000 rental properties that are used to produce the CPI Rents series across all capital cities.

What the CPI Rents series measures:

  • The CPI measures the prices being paid by households for the goods and services that they consume during a particular measurement period (e.g. month or quarter).  In the case of rents, this means that the CPI measures the current ‘price’ being paid by all types of households that rent including new and existing renters who are renting privately or from the government.  
  • Measures of rental inflation that are based on newly advertised rental properties only measure changes in the asking or advertised price of rental properties for new tenancies. At any given time, newly advertised tenancies represent a relatively small proportion of properties being rented in Australia. The Rents series used for the CPI measures actual rents paid rather than advertised prices.
  • Advertised rents tend to reflect the dynamic end of the rental market where the price change for new tenancies can be more volatile than that being experienced by renters with existing tenancy agreements.
  • Price changes observed in advertised rents series are expected to eventually flow through to the CPI Rents series. However, the small share of rental properties leased to new tenants each quarter means that it takes some time for changes in advertised rents to impact price change observed in the CPI Rents series.
  • A useful analogy is to think about a bathtub of water. The water in the tub represents all rents being paid by households, while the water entering the tub from the tap represents new rental agreements. The CPI series is measuring the overall temperature of the bathtub whereas an advertised rents series measures the temperature of the water flowing into the tub. It will take some time for the flow of water to change the overall temperature of the water in the bathtub.

Using price indexes

Price indexes in contracts

Price indexes published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provide summary measures of the movements in various categories of prices over time. They are published primarily for use in Government economic analysis. Price indexes are also often used in contracts by businesses and government to adjust payments and/or charges to take account of changes in categories of prices (Indexation Clauses).

Use of Price Indexes in Contracts sets out a range of issues that should be taken into account by parties considering including an Indexation Clause in a contract using an ABS published price index.

Frequently asked questions

The Frequently Asked Questions page has answers to a number of common questions to do with price indexes and the Consumer Price Index in particular.

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 6401.0.

Articles

Media releases