MAIN CONTRIBUTORS TO CHANGE
PENSIONER AND BENEFICIARY HOUSEHOLDS
The PBLCI rose 0.1% for the December quarter 2012. The main contributor to the rise was transport (+1.0%), mainly due to rises in automotive fuel. Housing (+0.4%) also contributed to the rise, largely due to rises in rents.
Health (-2.6%) contributed the most significant partial offset, largely due to a fall in pharmaceutical products.
The PBLCI recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+0.2%) in the December quarter 2012. Pensioner and beneficiary households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages than the CPI population, which fell this quarter. Further, pensioner and beneficiary households have a relatively lower proportion of expenditure on transport than the CPI population, which recorded the largest rise this quarter.
The PBLCI rose 2.3% through the year to the December quarter 2012 compared to the CPI which rose 2.2% through the year to the December quarter 2012.
EMPLOYEE HOUSEHOLDS
The living cost index for employee households rose 0.1% for the December quarter 2012. The main contributor to the rise was recreation and culture (+0.7%), mainly due to rises in domestic holiday travel and accommodation. Transport (+0.6%) also contributed to the rise, largely due to rises in automotive fuel.
The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for insurance and financial services (-0.5%), mainly due to a fall in interest charges. Furnishings, household equipment and services (-0.6%) also fell largely due to falls in furniture, glassware, tableware and household utensils and major household appliances.
The LCI for employee households recorded a smaller rise than the CPI (+0.2%) for the December quarter 2012. Employee households have a relatively lower proportion of expenditure on housing than the CPI population, which recorded a rise this quarter. This was further offset by the fall in interest charges, which for conceptual reasons is not included in the CPI.
The LCI for employee households rose 1.1% through the year to the December quarter 2012 compared to the CPI which rose 2.2% through the year to the December quarter 2012.
AGE PENSIONER HOUSEHOLDS
The living cost index for age pensioners remained unchanged for the December quarter 2012. Increases recorded for transport (+1.1%), recreation and culture (+0.7%) and insurance and financial services (+1.5%) were offset by falls in health (-2.4%) and food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.3%).
The LCI for age pensioner households remained unchanged compared to a rise in the CPI (+0.2%) for the December quarter 2012. Age pensioner households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages and health than the CPI population, both of which recorded a fall this quarter.
The LCI for age pensioner households rose 2.4% through the year to the December quarter 2012 compared to the CPI which rose 2.2% through the year to the December quarter 2012.
OTHER GOVERNMENT TRANSFER RECIPIENT HOUSEHOLDS
The living cost index for other government transfer recipient households rose 0.2% for the December quarter 2012. The main contributor to the rise was housing (+0.4%), largely due to increases in rents. Transport (+0.9%) also contributed to the rise, largely driven by an increase in automotive fuel.
The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for health (-3.1%) which was driven by a fall in pharmaceutical products. Furnishings, household equipment and services (-0.7%) also fell due to a fall in furniture.
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households recorded the same rise as the CPI (+0.2%) for the December quarter 2012. Other government transfer recipient households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on housing, which recorded a rise this quarter. Other government transfer recipient households also have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages and insurance and financial services which both recorded falls this quarter.
The LCI for other government transfer recipient households rose 2.2% through the year to the December quarter 2012 which is the same as the rise recorded for the CPI (+2.2%) through the year to the December quarter 2012.
SELF-FUNDED RETIREE HOUSEHOLDS
The living cost index for self-funded retiree households rose 0.3% for the December quarter 2012. The main contributor to the rise was recreation and culture (+1.3%), mainly due to rises in domestic holiday travel and accommodation. Transport (+0.6%), insurance and financial services (+1.4%) and communication (+1.3%) also contributed to the rise largely due to rises in automotive fuel, insurance and telecommunication equipment and services respectively.
The most significant partially offsetting fall was recorded for health (-1.0%) which was driven by a fall in pharmaceutical products.
The LCI for self-funded retiree households recorded a larger rise than the CPI (+0.2%) for the December quarter 2012. Self-funded retiree households have a relatively higher proportion of expenditure on recreation and culture which recorded a rise this quarter.
The LCI for self-funded retiree households rose 1.9% through the year to the December quarter 2012 compared to the CPI which rose 2.2% through the year to the December quarter 2012.
Percentage change, Commodity group - September Quarter 2012 to December Quarter 2012 |
|
 | Pensioner and beneficiary LCI | Employee LCI | Age pensioner LCI | Other government transfer recipient LCI | Self-funded retiree LCI | Consumer Price Index (CPI) |
| Weighted average of eight capital cities | | | | | | % |
|
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | -0.3 | -0.1 | -0.3 | -0.3 | -0.3 | -0.1 |
| Alcohol and tobacco | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 |
| Housing(a) | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and services | -0.6 | -0.6 | -0.5 | -0.7 | -0.6 | -0.6 |
| Health | -2.6 | -0.7 | -2.4 | -3.1 | -1.0 | -0.9 |
| Transport | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| Communication | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| Recreation and culture | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| Education | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Insurance and financial services(b) | 0.4 | -0.5 | 1.5 | -0.1 | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| All groups | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
|
| (a) House purchases are included in the CPI but excluded from the other indexes. |
| (b) 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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