CAPITAL CITIES COMPARISON


ALL GROUPS CPI

At the All groups level, the CPI rose in five of the eight capital cities during the March quarter 2015.

The education group (+5.3%) was the most significant positive contributor to the All groups quarterly movement. The main contributors to the rise in the education group for the March quarter 2015 were tertiary education (+5.7%) driven by increases in out of pocket TAFE fees and secondary education (+4.7%) following the commencement of the new school year. The group recorded rises in all eight capital cities with Sydney (+8.8%) recording the largest movement.

The housing group (+0.8%) was the second most significant positive contributor to the All groups quarterly movement, recording rises in all capital cities except Canberra (-0.5%). Sydney (+0.9%) and Melbourne (+0.9%) both recorded the largest movements.

The health group (+2.5%) was the third most significant positive contributor to the All groups quarterly movement. This rise was driven by medical and hospital services (+2.2%) and pharmaceutical products (+5.7%). The rise in medical and hospital services was due to the cyclical reduction in the proportion of patients who qualify for subsidies under the Medicare Benefits Scheme and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at the start of each calendar year. The group recorded rises in all eight capital cities with Brisbane (+3.3%) and Canberra (+3.3%) both recording the largest movements.

The most significant negative contributor to the quarterly movement was the transport group (-3.4%). This was driven by falls in automotive fuel across all eight capital cities, with Darwin (-15.2%) and Canberra (-14.5%) recording the largest movements.

Over the twelve months to the March quarter 2015, the All groups CPI rose in all eight capital cities with the largest positive movement recorded in Sydney (+1.6%). Canberra (+0.6%) recorded the smallest rise over the twelve months to the March quarter 2015.

All Groups CPI, All groups index numbers and percentage changes
	Index number(a)	Percentage change
	Mar Qtr 2015	Dec Qtr 2014 to Mar Qtr 2015	Mar Qtr 2014 to Mar Qtr 2015
Sydney	107.3	0.5	1.6
Melbourne	106.4	0.1	1.0
Brisbane	106.7	0.0	1.4
Adelaide	106.3	0.1	1.1
Perth	107.1	0.1	1.4
Hobart	105.0	0.3	0.9
Darwin	108.3	-0.2	0.8
Canberra	105.2	-0.1	0.6
Weighted average of eight capital cities	106.8	0.2	1.3
(a) Index reference period: 2011-12 = 100.0.

SYDNEY (+0.5%)

The main contributors to the rise in Sydney for the March quarter 2015 were new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (+2.1%), tertiary education (+12.9%) and domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+3.6%). The rise in tertiary fees was due to a change in the NSW state government funding for TAFE courses, requiring all relevant institutions to review their course content and pricing. The rise was partially offset by falls in automotive fuel (-12.4%), fruit (-6.4%) and international holiday travel and accommodation (-3.4%).


MELBOURNE (+0.1%)

The main contributors to the rise in Melbourne for the March quarter 2015 were domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+4.8%) and electricity (+4.1%). Offsetting these rises were falls in automotive fuel (-11.6%), urban transport fares (-16.1%) and fruit (-11.0%). The fall in urban transport fares was due to a restructuring of public transport fares by the Victorian Government.


BRISBANE (0.0%)

Brisbane recorded no change for the March quarter 2015. The main positive contributors were medical and hospital services (+3.2%) and domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+3.3%). These were offset by falls in automotive fuel (-13.0%) and international holiday travel and accommodation (-4.4%).


ADELAIDE (+0.1%)

The main contributors to the rise in Adelaide for the March quarter 2015 were electricity (+8.6%), domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+3.7%) and new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (+1.5%). The rise in electricity was due to the switch to peak pricing schedule for the period 1 January 2015 to 31 March 2015. The rise was partially offset by falls in automotive fuel (-12.2%), fruit (-11.3%) and household textiles (-10.5%).


PERTH (+0.1%)

The main contributors to the rise in Perth for the March quarter 2015 were medical and hospital services (+2.6%) and secondary education (+5.3%). The rise was partially offset by falls in automotive fuel (-11.2%) and furniture (-5.1%).


HOBART (+0.3%)

The main contributors to the rise in Hobart for the March quarter 2015 were domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+7.7%) and pharmaceutical products (+7.7%). The rise was partially offset by falls in automotive fuel (-13.9%) and fruit (-10.1%).


DARWIN (-0.2%)

The main contributors to the fall in Darwin for the March quarter 2015 were automotive fuel (-15.2%) and international holiday travel and accommodation (-4.9%). The fall was partially offset by rises in electricity (+5.0%) and spare parts and accessories (+6.2%). The rise in electricity was due to announced increases in power costs by the Northern Territory Government.


CANBERRA (-0.1%)

The main contributors to the fall in Canberra for the March quarter 2015 were automotive fuel (-14.5%) and international holiday travel and accommodation (-3.1%).The fall was partially offset by rises in domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+5.0%), medical and hospital services (+3.2%) and child care (+5.4%).