Release schedule
Learn about the publication schedule and information that will be available for the release of the complete Monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI)
The ABS will publish the first complete Monthly CPI on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, using the October 2025 reference month.
The Monthly CPI will be published on the last Wednesday of the month, following the end of the reference month. The exception to this will be November, which will be released on the 7 January 2026 owing to the Christmas / New Year holiday period. The release will be published on the ABS website in a new publication titled Consumer Price Index, Australia and will be available on the Price indexes and inflation page. Table 1 outlines the release schedule for six months following the initial release.
| Reference Month | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Consumer Price Index, Australia, November 2025 | 07/01/2026 |
| Consumer Price Index, Australia, December 2025 | 28/01/2026 |
| Consumer Price Index, Australia, January 2026 | 25/02/2026 |
| Consumer Price Index, Australia, February 2026 | 25/03/2026 |
| Consumer Price Index, Australia, March 2026 | 29/04/2026 |
| Consumer Price Index, Australia, April 2026 | 27/05/2026 |
The transition to the complete Monthly CPI represents a significant change to the ABS systems, data and business processes. The first six months of publication will be used to bed in the new systems, resolve any issues, and assess whether the release schedule can be brought forward without compromising statistical quality. The ABS will review the publication schedule by May 2026.
Supporting Technical Information
To support user readiness ahead of the complete Monthly CPI release, mock data tables that illustrate the format, structure, and content of the files will be published in September 2025. This resource will enable users to familiarise themselves with the layout of the data, variable naming conventions, and file specifications, so that systems can be updated ahead of the first release.
Additional technical information will also be released alongside the first complete Monthly CPI publication in November 2025. This will outline the new and expanded data sources that underpin the Monthly CPI. These enhancements have been implemented to improve data quality, coverage, and responsiveness in measuring inflation. For users seeking a deeper understanding of the CPI methodology, the Consumer Price Index: Concepts, Sources and Methods publication will be updated and made available with the first release. This comprehensive guide outlines the statistical methods, data sources, and techniques used in compiling the CPI.