ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY


MINING INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

INPUT TO THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY

The Input to the Coal mining industry price index rose 1.5% in the March quarter 2014. This follows a fall of 0.4% in the December quarter 2013. Through the year to the March quarter 2014, the Input to the Coal mining industry price index rose 2.8%.

The most significant contributor this quarter was a rise in the prices paid for distillate.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

In the March quarter 2014, the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index rose 2.3%, while the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index rose 2.0%.Through the year to the March quarter 2014, the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index rose 3.1%, while the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index rose 3.9%.

Major contributors to the rise in the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index were prices paid for inputs from the metal ore mining (+5.2%), oil and gas extraction (+3.6%) and agriculture (+4.1%) industries. Products contributing to these rises were gold bullion, crude oil and untreated milk.

Major contributors to the rise in the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index were prices received for outputs of the petroleum refining and petroleum fuel manufacturing (+4.8%), other basic non-ferrous metal manufacturing (+6.1%), meat processing (+3.9%) and printing (+5.9%) industries. Products contributing to these rises were unleaded petrol, precious metal recovery, frozen beef export and trade advertising.

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

INPUT TO THE HOUSE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The Input to the House construction industry price index rose 0.4% in the March quarter 2014. This follows a rise of 0.3% in the December quarter 2013. The most significant contributors this quarter were rises in prices paid for timber, board and joinery (+0.5%), other metal products (+0.8%) and other electrical equipment (+1.6%). Partly offsetting these rises were falls in the prices paid for other materials (-0.4%).

Melbourne (+0.8%), Adelaide (+0.6%), Sydney (+0.3%), Perth (+0.3%) rose in the March quarter 2014, Brisbane recorded no change and Hobart (-0.8%) decreased.

Through the year to the March quarter 2014, the Input to the House construction industry price index rose 1.0%. This rise was mainly attributed to increases in the prices paid for timber, board and joinery (+2.2%) and other materials (+0.6%).

OUTPUT OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES

The Output of the Construction industries, Subdivision 30 - Building construction price index rose 0.3% and Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 0.2% in the March quarter 2014.

Subdivision 30 - Building construction price index was driven by rises in the prices received for Class 3020 - Non-residential building construction (+0.3%), which was driven by New South Wales (+0.5%) and Queensland (+0.3%).

Through the year to the March quarter 2014, the price index of Subdivision 30 - Building construction rose 1.5%. This rise was driven by increases in the prices received for Class 3011 - House construction (+2.4%), Class 3020 - Non-residential building construction (+0.8%) and Class 3019 - Other residential building construction (+0.6%).

The price index for Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 0.2% for the March quarter 2014, which was driven by increases in the prices received for Queensland (+0.6%) and New South Wales (+0.4%).

Through the year to the March quarter 2014, Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 2.4%.

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 March quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 451 - Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (+0.4%) and Group 452 - Pubs, taverns and bars (+0.4%).


OUTPUT OF THE TRANSPORT, POSTAL AND WAREHOUSING INDUSTRIES

Output of the Transport, postal and warehousing industries recorded rises for the March quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 461 - Road freight transport services (+1.9%), Group 510 - Postage and Courier pick-up and delivery services (+2.2%) and Group 471 - Rail freight transport (+2.4%). Partly offsetting these rises were falls in the prices received for Group 530 - Warehousing and storage services (-0.8%).


OUTPUT OF THE INFORMATION MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRIES

Output of the Information media and telecommunications industries recorded rises for the March quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 592 - Data processing, web hosting and electronic information storage services (+0.2%) (driven by Class 5921 - Data processing and web hosting services (+0.1%) and Class 5922 - Electronic information storage services (+0.3%)).


OUTPUT OF THE RENTAL, HIRING AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Rental, hiring and real estate services industries recorded falls for the March quarter 2014 in the prices received for Class 6712 - Non-residential property operators (-0.4%) and Group 663 - Other goods and equipment rental and hiring (-0.5%). Partly offsetting these falls were rises in the prices received for Group 672 - Real estate services (+1.2%).


OUTPUT OF THE PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Professional, scientific and technical services industries recorded rises for the March quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 695 - Market research and statistical services (+2.9%) and Group 697 - Veterinary services(+1.7%).


OUTPUT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Administrative and support services industries recorded rises for the March quarter 2014 in the prices received for Group 729 - Other administrative services (+1.0%) (driven by Class 7299 - Other administrative services n.e.c (+1.0%)), Group 731 - Building cleaning, pest control and gardening services (+0.2%) (driven by Class 7312 - Building pest control services (+0.4%)) and Group 721 - Employment Services (+0.1%) (driven by Class 7211 - Employment placement and recruitment services (+0.4%)).


OUTPUT OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY INDUSTRIES

Output of the Public administration and safety industries recorded rises for the March quarter 2014 in the prices received for Class 7712 - Investigation and security services (+0.5%).


OUTPUT OF THE OTHER SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Other services industries recorded rises for the March quarter 2014 in the prices received for Class 9533 - Parking services (+1.2%).