RESULTS BY HOUSEHOLD TYPE
There are conceptual differences in the way that the housing and financial and insurance services groups are treated in the ALCI and CPI. See the Explanatory Notes for further detail.
Employee households
The index for employee households rose 1.7% for the March quarter 2011 mainly due to increases in automotive fuel, mortgage interest charges, vegetables, fruit and pharmaceuticals. The major offsetting decreases were provided by furniture, audio, visual and computing equipment, milk, overseas holiday travel and accommodation and domestic holiday travel and accommodation.
The ALCI for employee households showed a larger increase than the CPI (+1.6%) for the March quarter 2011. Employee households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on financial and insurance services than the wider CPI population group (which comprises private metropolitan households). The mortgage interest charges paid by employee households increased in the March quarter 2011 and for conceptual reasons, this item is not included in the CPI.
The index for employee households rose 4.9% for the year to March quarter 2011 mainly due to increases in mortgage interest charges, tobacco, automotive fuel, fruit, electricity, vegetables and rents. The major offsetting decreases were provided by audio, visual and computing equipment, motor vehicles, furniture and domestic holiday travel and accommodation.
The ALCI for employee households showed a larger increase compared to the CPI (+3.3%) for the year to March quarter 2011. Mortgage interest charges recorded a significant increase for the year to March quarter 2011 and for conceptual reasons, this item is not included in the CPI.
Age pensioner households
The index for age pensioner households rose 2.0% for the March quarter 2011 mainly due to increases in pharmaceuticals, vegetables, automotive fuel, fruit and electricity. The major offsetting decreases were provided by furniture, milk, and audio, visual and computing equipment.
The ALCI for age pensioner households showed a larger increase than the CPI (+1.6%) for the March quarter 2011. Age pensioner households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on health, with rises this quarter as a result of the cyclical reduction in the proportion of consumers who qualify for subsidised pharmaceuticals and out-of-hospital medical expenses at the start of each calendar year. This population sub-group also has a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on fruit and vegetables, which saw price rises partly due to the impact of floods and Cyclone Yasi.
The index for age pensioner households rose 4.1% for the year to March quarter 2011 mainly due to increases in tobacco, fruit, electricity, vegetables, automotive fuel and rents. The major offsetting decreases were provided by audio, visual and computing equipment, milk and domestic holiday travel and accommodation.
The ALCI for age pensioner households showed a larger increase than the CPI (+3.3%) for the year to March quarter 2011. Compared to the wider CPI population group, age pensioner households also have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on utilities and fruit and vegetables, which increased for the year to March quarter 2011. Mortgage interest charges recorded a significant increase for the year to March quarter 2011 and for conceptual reasons, this item is not included in the CPI.
Other government transfer recipient households
The index for other government transfer recipient households rose 1.7% for the March quarter 2011 mainly due to increases in automotive fuel, vegetables, fruit, pharmaceuticals and electricity. The major offsetting decreases were provided by furniture, milk and audio, visual and computing equipment.
The ALCI for other government transfer recipient households showed a larger increase than the CPI (+1.6%) for the March quarter 2011. The main contributor to the difference was an increase in mortgage interest charges which is excluded from the CPI for conceptual reasons. The relatively higher expenditure by other government transfer recipient households on automotive fuel also contributed to the difference. Vegetables and fruit also recorded price increases this quarter following the recent floods and Cyclone Yasi.
The index for other government transfer recipient households rose 5.1% for the year to March quarter 2011 mainly due to increases in tobacco, mortgage interest charges, rents, automotive fuel, electricity, fruit and vegetables. The major offsets were provided by audio, visual and computing equipment, milk and furniture.
The ALCI for other government transfer recipient households showed a larger increase than the CPI (+3.3%) for the year to March quarter 2011. Compared to the wider CPI population group, other government transfer recipient households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on alcohol and tobacco, which increased for the year to March quarter 2011. Mortgage interest charges also recorded a significant increase for the year to March quarter 2011 and for conceptual reasons, this item is not included in the CPI.
Self-funded retiree households
The index for self-funded retiree households rose 1.5% for the March quarter 2011 mainly due to increases in automotive fuel, vegetables, fruit and pharmaceuticals. The major offsetting decreases were provided by furniture, overseas holiday travel and accommodation and audio, visual and computing equipment.
The ALCI for self-funded retiree households showed a smaller increase than the CPI (+1.6%) for the March quarter 2011. Self-funded retiree households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on overseas holiday travel and accommodation, which recorded a decrease this quarter.
The index for self-funded retiree households rose 3.4% for the year to March quarter 2011 mainly due to increases in tobacco, automotive fuel, fruit, hospital and medical services, electricity and vegetables. The major offsets were provided by audio, visual and computing equipment, overseas holiday travel and accommodation, domestic holiday travel and accommodation and motor vehicles.
The ALCI for self-funded retiree households showed a larger increase for the year to March quarter 2011 than the CPI (+3.3%). Compared to the wider CPI population group, self-funded retiree households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on automotive fuel and fruit and vegetables, which increased for the year to March quarter 2011. Self-funded retiree households also recorded increases for hospital and medical services for the year to March quarter 2011.
GRAPHS
Graph 1: Index numbers for Employee households, All groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph 2: Index numbers for Age pensioner households, All groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph 3: Index numbers for Other government transfer recipient households, All groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph 4: Index numbers for Self-funded retiree households, All groups, June quarter 1998 = 100.0
Graph 5: Employee households and CPI, All groups, Percentage change (from previous quarter)
Graph 6: Age pensioner households and CPI, All groups, Percentage change (from previous quarter)
Graph 7: Other government transfer recipient households and CPI, All groups, Percentage change (from previous quarter)
Graph 8: Self-funded retiree households and CPI, All groups, Percentage change (from previous quarter)
Table 1: Percentage change in Analytical Living Cost Indexes and CPI, Commodity group - December Quarter 2010 to March Quarter 2011 |
|
| Weighted average of eight capital cities | Employee ALCI(a) | Age pensioner ALCI(a) | Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a) | Self-funded retiree ALCI(a) | CPI(b) |
|
| Food | 2.9 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 2.9 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| Clothing and footwear | -0.9 | -1.2 | -1.3 | -0.6 | -0.7 |
| Housing(c) | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Household contents and services | -1.4 | -1.2 | -1.4 | -1.4 | -1.6 |
| Health | 3.6 | 6.4 | 7.2 | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| Transportation | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 2.7 |
| Communication | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Recreation | -0.6 | -0.6 | -0.6 | -0.9 | -0.6 |
| Education | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 5.7 |
| Financial and insurance services(d) | 3.2 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.6 |
| All groups | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
|
| (a) Reference base of index: June quarter 1998 =100.0 |
| (b) Re-referenced to base of June quarter 1998 = 100.0 |
| (c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (d) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
Table 2: Points contribution to quarterly change, index points - December Quarter 2010 to March Quarter 2011 |
|
| Weighted average of eight capital cities | Employee ALCI(a) | Age pensioner ALCI(a) | Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a) | Self-funded retiree ALCI(a) | CPI(b) |
|
| Food | 0.70 | 1.16 | 0.91 | 0.87 | 0.68 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 0.13 | 0.11 | 0.25 | 0.12 | 0.11 |
| Clothing and footwear | -0.05 | -0.07 | -0.07 | -0.03 | -0.03 |
| Housing(c) | 0.25 | 0.48 | 0.54 | 0.21 | 0.40 |
| Household contents and services | -0.20 | -0.17 | -0.21 | -0.22 | -0.19 |
| Health | 0.26 | 0.69 | 0.33 | 0.49 | 0.28 |
| Transportation | 0.57 | 0.54 | 0.58 | 0.58 | 0.47 |
| Communication | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Recreation | -0.11 | -0.08 | -0.08 | -0.18 | -0.08 |
| Education | 0.26 | 0.02 | 0.16 | 0.06 | 0.25 |
| Financial and insurance services(d) | 0.62 | 0.17 | 0.26 | 0.17 | 0.33 |
| All groups | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
|
| (a) Reference base of index: June quarter 1998 =100.0 |
| (b) Re-referenced to base of June quarter 1998 = 100.0 |
| (c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (d) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
Table 3: Contribution to total index, Commodity group, index points - December Quarter 2010 to March Quarter 2011 |
|
 | Employee ALCI(a) | Age pensioner ALCI(a) | Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a) | Self-funded retiree ALCI(a) | CPI(b) |
| Commodity group | Dec Qtr 2010 | Mar Qtr 2011 | Dec Qtr 2010 | Mar Qtr 2011 | Dec Qtr 2010 | Mar Qtr 2011 | Dec Qtr 2010 | Mar Qtr 2011 | Dec Qtr 2010 | Mar Qtr 2011 |
|
| Food | 25.04 | 25.74 | 32.25 | 33.41 | 28.97 | 29.88 | 25.38 | 26.25 | 23.52 | 24.20 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 12.97 | 13.10 | 11.59 | 11.70 | 17.26 | 17.51 | 11.89 | 12.01 | 11.02 | 11.13 |
| Clothing and footwear | 5.20 | 5.15 | 6.09 | 6.02 | 5.75 | 5.68 | 4.78 | 4.75 | 4.65 | 4.62 |
| Housing(c) | 19.38 | 19.63 | 28.60 | 29.08 | 32.65 | 33.19 | 17.84 | 18.05 | 31.17 | 31.57 |
| Household contents and services | 13.12 | 12.92 | 14.95 | 14.78 | 13.72 | 13.51 | 16.46 | 16.24 | 12.46 | 12.27 |
| Health | 7.21 | 7.47 | 10.76 | 11.45 | 4.62 | 4.95 | 13.17 | 13.66 | 7.12 | 7.40 |
| Transportation | 20.19 | 20.76 | 15.96 | 16.50 | 15.42 | 16.00 | 19.77 | 20.35 | 17.92 | 18.39 |
| Communication | 4.48 | 4.49 | 4.92 | 4.92 | 5.75 | 5.76 | 3.82 | 3.83 | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Recreation | 16.40 | 16.29 | 14.93 | 14.85 | 13.02 | 12.94 | 22.03 | 21.85 | 14.89 | 14.81 |
| Education | 4.63 | 4.89 | 0.24 | 0.26 | 2.85 | 3.01 | 1.02 | 1.08 | 4.28 | 4.53 |
| Financial and insurance services(d) | 19.42 | 20.04 | 8.12 | 8.29 | 10.26 | 10.52 | 7.47 | 7.64 | 12.64 | 12.97 |
| All groups | 148.0 | 150.5 | 148.4 | 151.3 | 150.3 | 152.9 | 143.6 | 145.7 | 143.8 | 146.0 |
|
| (a) Reference base of index: June quarter 1998 =100.0 |
| (b) Re-referenced to base of June quarter 1998 = 100.0 |
| (c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (d) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
Table 4: Percentage change in Analytical Living Cost Indexes and CPI, Commodity group - March Quarter 2010 to March Quarter 2011 |
|
| Weighted average of eight capital cities | Employee ALCI(a) | Age pensioner ALCI(a) | Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a) | Self-funded retiree ALCI(a) | CPI(b) |
|
| Food | 4.2 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 10.8 | 10.9 | 17.1 | 9.9 | 11.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | -1.4 | -1.9 | -1.7 | -1.3 | -1.3 |
| Housing(c) | 6.0 | 6.3 | 5.9 | 6.7 | 4.8 |
| Household contents and services | -0.4 | -0.3 | -0.5 | -0.3 | -0.5 |
| Health | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 4.1 |
| Transportation | 3.3 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| Communication | -0.2 | 0.2 | -0.1 | 0.3 | -0.2 |
| Recreation | -1.6 | -1.0 | -1.6 | -1.7 | -1.5 |
| Education | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 6.2 | 5.9 |
| Financial and insurance services(d) | 15.8 | 7.0 | 12.0 | 7.8 | 2.8 |
| All groups | 4.9 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
|
| (a) Reference base of index: June quarter 1998 =100.0 |
| (b) Re-referenced to base of June quarter 1998 = 100.0 |
| (c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (d) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
Table 5: Points contribution to annual change, index points - March Quarter 2010 to March Quarter 2011 |
|
| Weighted average of eight capital cities | Employee ALCI(a) | Age pensioner ALCI(a) | Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a) | Self-funded retiree ALCI(a) | CPI(b) |
|
| Food | 1.02 | 1.61 | 1.25 | 1.24 | 1.01 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 1.28 | 1.14 | 2.56 | 1.08 | 1.12 |
| Clothing and footwear | -0.07 | -0.11 | -0.09 | -0.06 | -0.06 |
| Housing(c) | 1.11 | 1.74 | 1.86 | 1.14 | 1.44 |
| Household contents and services | -0.05 | -0.04 | -0.08 | -0.05 | -0.06 |
| Health | 0.29 | 0.43 | 0.16 | 0.56 | 0.29 |
| Transportation | 0.66 | 0.63 | 0.69 | 0.66 | 0.54 |
| Communication | -0.01 | 0.01 | 0.00 | 0.01 | -0.01 |
| Recreation | -0.27 | -0.16 | -0.20 | -0.36 | -0.23 |
| Education | 0.27 | 0.02 | 0.16 | 0.06 | 0.25 |
| Financial and insurance services(d) | 2.73 | 0.54 | 1.12 | 0.56 | 0.36 |
| All groups | 7.0 | 5.8 | 7.4 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
|
| (a) Reference base of index: June quarter 1998 =100.0 |
| (b) Re-referenced to base of June quarter 1998 = 100.0 |
| (c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (d) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
Table 6: Contributions to total index, Commodity group, index points - March Quarter 2010 to March Quarter 2011 |
|
| Employee ALCI(a) | Age pensioner ALCI(a) | Other government transfer recipient ALCI(a) | Self-funded retiree ALCI(a) | CPI(b) |
| Commodity group | Mar Qtr 2010 | Mar Qtr 2011 | Mar Qtr 2010 | Mar Qtr 2011 | Mar Qtr 2010 | Mar Qtr 2011 | Mar Qtr 2010 | Mar Qtr 2011 | Mar Qtr 2010 | Mar Qtr 2011 |
|
| Food | 24.72 | 25.74 | 31.80 | 33.41 | 28.63 | 29.88 | 25.01 | 26.25 | 23.19 | 24.20 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 11.82 | 13.10 | 10.56 | 11.70 | 14.95 | 17.51 | 10.93 | 12.01 | 10.01 | 11.13 |
| Clothing and footwear | 5.22 | 5.15 | 6.13 | 6.02 | 5.77 | 5.68 | 4.81 | 4.75 | 4.68 | 4.62 |
| Housing(c) | 18.52 | 19.63 | 27.34 | 29.08 | 31.33 | 33.19 | 16.91 | 18.05 | 30.13 | 31.57 |
| Household contents and services | 12.97 | 12.92 | 14.82 | 14.78 | 13.59 | 13.51 | 16.29 | 16.24 | 12.33 | 12.27 |
| Health | 7.18 | 7.47 | 11.02 | 11.45 | 4.79 | 4.95 | 13.10 | 13.66 | 7.11 | 7.40 |
| Transportation | 20.10 | 20.76 | 15.87 | 16.50 | 15.31 | 16.00 | 19.69 | 20.35 | 17.85 | 18.39 |
| Communication | 4.50 | 4.49 | 4.91 | 4.92 | 5.76 | 5.76 | 3.82 | 3.83 | 4.13 | 4.12 |
| Recreation | 16.56 | 16.29 | 15.01 | 14.85 | 13.14 | 12.94 | 22.21 | 21.85 | 15.04 | 14.81 |
| Education | 4.62 | 4.89 | 0.24 | 0.26 | 2.85 | 3.01 | 1.02 | 1.08 | 4.28 | 4.53 |
| Financial and insurance services(d) | 17.31 | 20.04 | 7.75 | 8.29 | 9.40 | 10.52 | 7.08 | 7.64 | 12.61 | 12.97 |
| Total all groups | 143.5 | 150.5 | 145.5 | 151.3 | 145.5 | 152.9 | 140.9 | 145.7 | 141.4 | 146.0 |
|
| (a) Reference base of index: June quarter 1998 =100.0 |
| (b) Re-referenced to base of June quarter 1998 = 100.0 |
| (c) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (d) Includes interest charges and general insurance, except for the CPI. Interest charges are excluded from the CPI and general insurance is calculated on a different basis. |
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