CAPITAL CITIES COMPARISON


ALL GROUPS CPI

At the All groups level, the CPI rose and fell in the capital cities in equal numbers during the December quarter 2011. Rises were recorded in Canberra (+0.3%), Perth (+0.2%), Melbourne (+0.1%) and Hobart (+0.1%). Falls were recorded in Darwin (–0.4%), Brisbane (–0.2%), Sydney (–0.1%) and Adelaide (–0.1%).

The housing group was the most significant positive contributor to the All groups quarterly movement recording rises in all cities with the exception of Melbourne (–0.1%). The largest movements were recorded in Adelaide (+1.2%) driven by increases in electricity. Sydney and Perth (+0.8%) also rose largely due to increases in rents.

The recreation and culture group was the second largest positive contributor to the quarterly movement, recording rises in five of the eight capital cities. The largest city movements were recorded in Perth (+1.5%), Hobart (+1.3%) and Canberra (+1.2%). The most significant contributor was the increase to domestic holiday travel and accommodation in seven of the eight capital cities, most notably Perth (+11.8%), Melbourne (+8.1%) and Canberra (+6.7%), with Darwin (–8.1%) recording the only fall.

The food and non–alcoholic beverages group was the most significant negative contributor in all cities. The largest falls for the food and non–alcoholic beverages group were recorded in Canberra (–2.5%), Darwin (–2.5%) and Adelaide (–2.0%) due to falls in all cities for fruit ranging from Canberra (–23.6%) to Perth (–10.5%).

The health group was the second largest negative contributor to the quarterly movement recording falls in all cities. The fall was mainly due to a greater proportion of consumers exceeding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme safety net resulting in decreases in pharmaceutical products in all cities with falls ranging from 7.5% in Hobart to 4.6% in Perth.

Over the twelve months to the December quarter 2011, the All groups CPI rose in all capital cities with the largest positive movements recorded in Adelaide (+3.6%) and Canberra (+3.6%). Brisbane (+2.4%) and Darwin (+2.4%) recorded the smallest rises over the twelve months to the December quarter 2011.

All Groups CPI, All groups index numbers and percentage changes
	Index number(a)	Percentage change
	Dec Qtr 2011	Sep Qtr 2011 to Dec Qtr 2011	Dec Qtr 2010 to Dec Qtr 2011
Sydney	178.7	–0.1	3.2
Melbourne	176.8	0.1	3.1
Brisbane	184.4	–0.2	2.4
Adelaide	183.5	–0.1	3.6
Perth	179.1	0.2	2.9
Hobart	178.1	0.1	3.2
Darwin	176.0	–0.4	2.4
Canberra	180.4	0.3	3.6
Weighted average of eight capital cities	179.4	0.0	3.1
(a) Base of each index: 1989–90 = 100.0.