ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY


MINING INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

INPUT TO THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY

Input to the Coal mining industry fell 2.8% in the December quarter 2014. This follows a fall of 1.1% in the September quarter 2014. Through the year to the December quarter 2014, the Input to the Coal mining industry index fell 3.5%.

The most significant contributors this quarter were falls in the prices paid for petroleum refining and petroleum fuel manufacturing and mining services.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

In the December quarter 2014, the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index fell 0.6%, while the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index rose 0.3%.Through the year to the December quarter 2014, the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index fell 0.4%, while the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index rose 2.5%.

Major contributors to the fall in the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index were prices paid for inputs from the oil and gas extraction (-13.3%) and metal ore mining (-2.6%) industries. Products contributing to these falls were crude oil, silver and zinc ores and iron ore.

Major contributors to the rise in the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index were prices received for outputs of the meat processing (+10.4%), alumina production (+14.3%) and aluminium smelting (+8.6%) industries. Products contributing to these rises were frozen beef, alumina and aluminium (excluding scrap). Partly offsetting these rises were falls in the prices received for outputs of the petroleum refining and petroleum fuel manufacturing (-11.8%) industry.

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

INPUT TO THE HOUSE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The price index of the Input to the House construction industry rose 0.1% in the December quarter 2014. This follows a rise of 0.8% in the September quarter 2014. The most significant contributors this quarter were rises in prices paid for timber, board and joinery (+0.6%) and other metal products (+0.2%) being partially offset by falls in other materials -0.4% and plumbing products -0.7%.

Capital cities to show a rise in the December quarter 2014 were, Brisbane +1.1%, Perth +0.2% and Adelaide +0.1%. Hobart showed no change. Sydney -0.3% and Melbourne -0.1% both fell over the December quarter.

Through the year to the December quarter 2014, the Input to the House construction industry price index increased 2.8%. This rise was mainly attributed to increases in the prices paid for timber, board and joinery (+4.1%), other materials (+2.5%), other metal products (+2.4%) and plumbing products (+2.8%).

OUTPUT OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES

Output of the Construction industries, Subdivision 30 - Building construction rose 0.6% and Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction fell -0.8% for the December quarter 2014.

Subdivision 30 - Building construction was driven by rises in the prices received for Class 3011 - House Construction which rose 1.1%, which was driven by Queensland (+2.0%), New South Wales (+1.4%) and Victoria (+0.9%) and Class 3020 - Non-residential building construction which rose +0.2%, which was driven by Queensland (+0.5%)

Through the year to the December quarter 2014, the price index of Subdivision 30 - Building construction rose 3.0%. This rise was driven by increases in the prices received for Class 3011 - House construction (+4.0%), Class 3020 - Non-residential building construction (+2.3%) and Class 3019 - Other residential building construction (+2.2%).

Through the year to the December quarter 2014, the Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 0.3%.

SERVICES INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

OUTPUT OF THE ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Accommodation and food services industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 440 - Accommodation (+7.4%).


OUTPUT OF THE TRANSPORT, POSTAL AND WAREHOUSING INDUSTRIES

Output of the Transport, postal and warehousing industries recorded falls for the December quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 471 - Rail freight transport (-5.5%) and Group 530 - Warehousing and storage services (-1.0%) (driven by Class 5309 - Other warehousing and storage services (-2.0%)).


OUTPUT OF THE INFORMATION MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRIES

Output of the Information media and telecommunications industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 541 - Newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishing (+0.6%) (driven by Class 5411 - Newspaper publishing (+1.1%)) and Group 592 - Data processing, web hosting and electronic information storage services (+0.1%) (driven by Class 5921 - Data processing and web hosting services (+0.2%)).


OUTPUT OF THE RENTAL, HIRING AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Rental, hiring and real estate services industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 672 - Real estate services (+2.0%), Group 661 - Motor vehicle and transport equipment rental and hiring (+2.8%) (driven by Class 6611 - Passenger car rental and hiring (+3.5%)) and Group 663 - Other goods and equipment rental and hiring (+0.8%).


OUTPUT OF THE PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Professional, scientific and technical services industries recorded falls for the December quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 692 - Architectural, engineering and technical services (-1.4%) (driven by Class 6923 - Engineering design and engineering consulting services (-2.0%)) and Group 700 - Computer system design and related services (-1.6%). Partly offsetting these falls were rises in the prices received for Group 693 - Legal and accounting services (+0.5%) (driven by Class 6932 - Accounting services (+0.9%)).


OUTPUT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Administrative and support services industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 729 - Other administrative services (+1.4%) (driven by Class 7293 - Credit reporting and debt collection services (+2.2%)). Partly offsetting these rises were falls in the prices received for Group 721 - Employment Services (-0.5%) (driven by Class 7212 - Labour supply services (-0.5%)).


OUTPUT OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY INDUSTRIES

Output of the Public administration and safety industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2014 in the prices received for Class 7712 - Investigation and security services (+0.3%).


OUTPUT OF THE OTHER SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Other services industries recorded rises for the December quarter 2014 in the prices received for Class 9533 - Parking services (+0.1%).