ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY

MINING INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

INPUT TO THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY

Input to the Coal mining industry fell 3.8% in the March quarter 2015. This follows a fall of 2.8% in the December quarter 2014. Through the year to the March quarter 2015, the Input to the Coal mining industry index fell 8.5%.

The most significant contributors this quarter were falls in the prices paid for petroleum refining and petroleum fuel manufacturing and mining services (-11.1%).

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

In the March quarter 2015, the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index fell 1.7%, while the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index fell 0.7%.Through the year to the March quarter 2015, the Input to the Manufacturing industries price index fell 4.3%, while the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index fell 0.2%.

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 (-20.6%), metal ore mining (-4.4%), and basic non-ferrous metal (-7.7%) industries. Products contributing to these falls were crude oil, copper ore and oxides, and gold bullion.

Major contributors to the fall in the Output of the Manufacturing industries price index were prices received for outputs of the petrol refinery and petrol fuel industries (-16.2%), and copper, silver, lead, and zinc smelting and refining (-6.2%) industries. Products contributing to these falls were petroleum auto, petrol unleaded, gas oil and fuel (diesel), and copper, silver, lead, and zinc smelting and refining. Partly offsetting these falls were rises in the prices received for outputs of the alumina, and cigarettes and tobacco manufacturing industry.

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES PRODUCER PRICE INDEXES

INPUT TO THE HOUSE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The price index of the Input to the House construction industry rose 0.9% in the March quarter 2015. This follows a rise of 0.1% in the December quarter 2014. The most significant contributors this quarter were rises in prices paid for timber, board and joinery (+1.1%) and other materials (+0.7%).

All capital cities showed a rise in the March quarter 2015: Melbourne (+1.1%), Perth (+0.9%), Sydney (+0.9%), Brisbane (+0.3%), Adelaide (+0.7%) and Hobart (+0.9%).

Through the year to the March quarter 2015, the Input to the House construction industry price index increased 3.3%. This rise was mainly attributed to increases in the prices paid for timber, board and joinery (+4.8%), other materials (+3.6%), other metal products (+2.0%) and plumbing products (+3.2%).

OUTPUT OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES

Output of the Construction industries, Subdivision 30 - Building construction rose 0.8% and Class 3101 - Road and bridge construction rose 0.2% for the March quarter 2015.

Subdivision 30 - Building construction was driven by rises in the prices received for Class 3011 - House Construction which rose 0.9%, which was driven by New South Wales (+2.2%) and Western Australia (+0.9%) and Class 3020 - Non-residential building construction which rose +0.7%, which was driven by Queensland (+2.6%) and New South Wales (+0.4%).

Through the year to the March quarter 2015, the price index of Subdivision 30 - Building construction rose 3.5%. This rise was driven by increases in the prices received for Class 3011 - House construction (+4.8%), Class 3020 - Non-residential building construction (+2.7%) and Class 3019 - Other residential building construction (+2.5%).

Through the year to the March quarter 2015, 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 March quarter 2015 in the prices received for Group 451 - Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (+0.5%) and Group 440 - Accommodation (+0.7%).


OUTPUT OF THE TRANSPORT, POSTAL AND WAREHOUSING INDUSTRIES

Output of the Transport, postal and warehousing industries recorded falls for the March quarter 2015 in the prices received for Group 461 - Road freight transport (-1.3%) and Group 471 - Rail freight transport (-0.6%) . Partly offsetting these falls were rises in the prices received for Group 510 - Postal and courier pick-up and delivery services (+1.8%).


OUTPUT OF THE INFORMATION MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRIES

Output of the Information media and telecommunications industries recorded falls for the March quarter 2015 in the prices received for Group 592 - Data processing, web hosting and electronic information storage services (-0.5%) (driven by Class 5921 - Data processing and web hosting services (-0.4%) and Class 5922 - Electronic information storage services (-1.2%)) and Class 5411 - Newspaper publishing (-0.1%).


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 2015 in the prices received for Group 663 - Other goods and equipment rental and hiring (-0.8%) and Group 661 - Motor vehicle and transport equipment rental and hiring (-1.8%) (driven by Class 6611 - Passenger car rental and hiring ( -2.3%)). Partly offsetting these falls were rises in the prices received for Group 672 - Real estate services (+0.8%).


OUTPUT OF THE PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Professional, scientific and technical services industries recorded rises for the March quarter 2015 in the prices received for Class 6962 - Management advice and related consulting services (+2.2%). Partly offsetting these rises were falls in the prices received for Group 692 - Architectural, engineering and technical services (-1.1%) (driven by Class 6923 - Engineering design and engineering consulting services (-1.6%)).


OUTPUT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Administrative and support services industries recorded rises for the March quarter 2015 in the prices received for Group 729 - Other administrative services (+0.6%) (driven by Class 7299 - Other administrative services n.e.c. (+1.1%)) and Group 721 - Employment Services (+0.2%) (driven by Class 7211 - Employment placement and recruitment services (+2.0%)).


OUTPUT OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY INDUSTRIES

Output of the Public administration and safety industries recorded rises for the March quarter 2015 in the prices received for Class 7712 - Investigation and security services (+0.2%).


OUTPUT OF THE OTHER SERVICES INDUSTRIES

Output of the Other services industries recorded rises for the March quarter 2015 in the prices received for Class 9533 - Parking services (+1.3%).