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Capital cities comparison

All groups CPI


All Groups CPI, Percentage change from previous quarter


The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.7% this quarter in original terms and rose 0.6% in seasonally adjusted terms. Annually, the CPI rose 1.8%.

• At the All groups level, all capital cities recorded a rise this quarter ranging from Darwin (+0.2%) to Hobart (+1.7%).
• Annually at the All groups level, all capital cities rose ranging from Darwin (0.5%) to Hobart (+2.7%).
• Food and non-alcoholic beverages has risen in all capital cities this quarter ranging from 0.9% in Adelaide, Darwin and Canberra, to 1.5% in Sydney and Melbourne. Lower seasonal supply and adverse weather, particularly drought conditions, are seeing price rises for fruit and vegetables (+3.5%) and dairy and related products (+1.3%), while strong international demand, combined with drought conditions is leading to price rises for meat and seafoods (+1.5%).
• Transport rose in all capital cities this quarter mainly due to price rises for automotive fuel following higher global oil prices. Automotive fuel increases ranged from 2.3% in Darwin to 5.4% in Sydney.
• Housing recorded rises in all capital cities this quarter with the exception of Sydney (-0.3%) and Darwin (-0.4%). Sydney had price falls for new dwelling purchases by owner-occupiers, rents and utilities. Hobart (+1.2%) recorded the strongest rise for housing this quarter due to strong price increases for new dwelling purchases by owner-occupiers and rents.

All Groups CPI, All groups index numbers and percentage changes
	Index number(a)	Percentage change
	Dec Qtr 2019	Sep Qtr 2019 to Dec Qtr 2019	Dec Qtr 2018 to Dec Qtr 2019
Sydney	117.1	0.5	1.6
Melbourne	116.9	0.9	2.0
Brisbane	116.3	0.7	2.0
Adelaide	115.4	0.8	2.1
Perth	113.1	0.4	1.6
Hobart	116.7	1.7	2.7
Darwin	111.5	0.2	0.5
Canberra	115.0	0.6	1.7
Weighted average of eight capital cities	116.2	0.7	1.8
(a) Index reference period: 2011-12 = 100.0.

• Tobacco (+8.1%)
• Domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (+6.0%)
• Automotive fuel (+5.4%).

• International holiday, travel and accommodation (-2.9%)
• New dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (-0.7%); driven by increases in promotional offer values.
• Motor vehicles (-1.5%)
• Housing related expenses fell 0.3% this quarter, driven by falls in new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (-0.7%), rents (-0.3%), electricity (-0.6%) and gas and other household fuels (-1.2%).

• Tobacco (+8.3%)
• Domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (+9.8%)
• Automotive fuel (+4.5%)
• New dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (+1.5%) with increases in base prices and reductions in the value of promotional offers.

• International holiday, travel and accommodation (-2.7%)
• Gas and other household fuels (-3.3%); driven by the switch to off-peak pricing for gas.

• Tobacco (+8.8%)
• Automotive fuel (+4.8%)
• Domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (+3.7%)

• International holiday, travel and accommodation (-2.4%)
• Motor vehicles (-1.3%).

• Tobacco (+8.5%)
• Domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (+10.6%)
• Automotive fuel (+3.3%).

• International holiday, travel and accommodation (-3.2%)
• Electricity (-1.5%) with the introduction of new market offers with lower supply and usage charges this quarter.

• Tobacco (+8.7%)
• Domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (+7.4%)
• Automotive fuel (+3.1%).

• International holiday, travel and accommodation (-3.7%)
• Garments for women (-4.0%)
• Wine (-2.7%).

• Domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (+18.7%); due to increased tourist demand.
• Tobacco (+8.1%)
• Automotive fuel (+2.4%)
• New dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (+1.7%); due to strong demand with builders passing on increased input costs.

• International holiday, travel and accommodation (-4.0%)
• Garments for women (-3.9%).

• Tobacco (+8.8%)
• Automotive fuel (+2.3%)
• Fruits (+7.5%).

• Domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (-11.0%); which is the only recorded fall across all capital cities due to reduced demand during the wet season.
• Rents (-1.5%)
• International holiday, travel and accommodation (-2.6%).

• Domestic holiday, travel and accommodation (+6.4%)
• Tobacco (+8.4%)
• Automotive fuel (+3.1%).

• International holiday, travel and accommodation (-2.6%)
• Garments for women (-4.7%).