Monthly Consumer Price Index Indicator

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The monthly CPI indicator is a measure of inflation and includes statistics about prices for categories of households expenditure

Reference period
August 2025
Released
24/09/2025
Release date and time
24/09/2025 11:30am AEST

Key statistics

  • The monthly CPI indicator rose 3.0% in the 12 months to August.
  • The largest contributors to the annual movement were Housing (+4.5%), Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+3.0%), and Alcohol and tobacco (+6.0%). 

What's new this month

On 23 July the ABS announced that the first release of the complete Monthly CPI will be published on Wednesday 26 November 2025, using the October 2025 reference month. This publication will mark the transition from the quarterly CPI to the Monthly CPI as Australia’s primary measure of headline inflation. More details available on the Complete monthly measure of the CPI

The final release of the monthly CPI indicator will be published for the September 2025 reference month on 29 October 2025.

A mock-up of the complete Monthly CPI publication (including table shells and series IDs) will be published on the Complete monthly measure of the CPI page on 30th September 2025.

Main features

Weighted average of eight capital cities, annual movement
 Jun 24 to Jun 25 % changeJul 24 to Jul 25 % changeAug 24 to Aug 25 % change
All groups monthly CPI1.92.83.0
Food and non-alcoholic beverages3.23.03.0
 Bread and cereal products2.31.92.1
 Meat and seafood3.32.42.9
 Dairy and related products0.30.21.3
 Fruit and vegetables4.94.81.1
 Food products n.e.c.3.83.74.1
 Non-alcoholic beverages5.55.74.9
Alcohol and tobacco5.76.56.0
 Alcohol3.33.83.1
 Tobacco11.112.412.6
Clothing and footwear1.42.33.0
 Garments1.21.22.1
Housing1.63.64.5
 Rents4.23.93.7
 New dwelling purchases by owner-occupiers0.40.40.7
 Electricity**-6.313.624.6
 Gas and other household fuels4.34.74.1
Furnishings, household equipment and services0.90.90.9
Health4.14.14.1
Transport-1.9-1.00.4
 Automotive fuel-8.0-5.5-1.7
Communications0.90.81.9
Recreation and culture-0.72.61.4
 Holiday travel and accommodation-3.73.31.1
Education5.65.65.5
Insurance and financial services3.13.13.0
CPI analytical series   
 Seasonally adjusted1.82.83.0
 CPI excluding volatile items* and holiday travel2.53.23.4
 Annual trimmed mean2.12.72.6

* Volatile items are Fruit and vegetables and Automotive fuel

** July 2025 annual movement for Electricity has been revised from 13.1% to 13.6%. For more information refer to the section 'Revision to Electricity in July 2025'.

Monthly overview

The monthly CPI indicator rose 3.0% in the 12 months to August, following a 2.8% rise in the 12 months to July. 

The monthly CPI indicator excluding volatile items and holiday travel rose 3.4% in the 12 months to August following a 3.2% rise in the 12 months to July. This series excludes Automotive fuel, Fruit and vegetables, and Holiday travel and accommodation. 

The annual trimmed mean is an alternative measure of underlying inflation that reduces the impact of irregular or temporary price changes. Annual trimmed mean inflation, which this month excluded the annual rise in Electricity prices, alongside other large price rises and falls, was 2.6% to August, down from 2.7% to July. 

*Volatile items are Fruit and vegetables and Automotive fuel

Electricity

Electricity rose 24.6% in the 12 months to August. The annual rise in electricity costs is primarily related to State Government rebates being used up by households.

In August last year, State Government electricity rebates that were in place included the Queensland $1,000 State rebate, the Western Australia $400 State rebate and the Tasmania $250 State rebate. Over the year, those rebates have been used up and those programs have finished. As a result, households in those States have higher out of pocket electricity costs in August 2025 than they did in August 2024.

For households in Western Australia, the 2024-25 Commonwealth Energy Bill Relief Fund (EBRF) rebate was also in place in August last year. This year, Western Australian households will receive the payment from the extended Commonwealth EBRF rebate program from 11 October. This change in the timing of EBRF payments for Western Australian households also contributed to higher out of pocket electricity costs in August 2025 than in August 2024. 

In monthly terms, electricity costs fell 6.3 per cent in August 2025. The fall in costs this month was driven by NSW and ACT, with households in those States receiving their first payments of the extended Commonwealth Energy Bill Relief Fund (EBRF) rebates. 

(a) July 2025 monthly movement for Electricity has been revised from 13.0% to 13.5%. July 2025 annual movement for Electricity has been revised from 13.1% to 13.6%. For more information refer to the section 'Revision to Electricity in July 2025'.

Commonwealth and State government electricity rebates
 
Commonwealth $150 rebate (EBRF 2025 extension)
Rebate methodApplied directly to electricity bills as two equal $75 quarterly instalments between July 2025 and December 2025 inclusive. (a)
TimingFrom July 2025 for VIC, QLD, SA, TAS and NT. From August 2025 for NSW and ACT (b). For WA, households will receive rebates from 11 October 2025. 
  1. This applies to all States and Territories, except WA, where rebates will be paid from 11 October 2025.
  2. For States and Territories receiving rebates from August 2025, households whose billing cycle is in July 2025 will receive two instalments in October 2025.

Excluding the impact of the various changes in Commonwealth and State electricity rebates over the last year electricity prices rose 5.9 per cent. 

June 2023, index = 100

a. Introduction of the 2023-24 Commonwealth Energy Bill Relief Fund (EBRF) rebates

b. Introduction of the first instalment of the 2024-25 EBRF rebates for all households in QLD and WA, and State rebates in QLD, WA and TAS

c. Introduction of the first instalment of the extended 2024-25 EBRF rebates for all households in VIC, QLD, SA, TAS and NT

d. Introduction of the first instalment of the extended 2024-25 EBRF rebates for all households in NSW and ACT

The following table shows the timing of electricity rebates for the time periods July 2024, August 2024, July 2025 and August 2025. Timing of rebates 12 months ago can have an impact on annual movements. 

Timing of electricity rebates
StateJuly 2024August 2024July 2025August 2025
NSW $75 (a) (c) $75 (b)
VIC $75 (a) (c)$75 (b)$75 (b)
QLD$1,000 State rebate
$75 (a)
$1,000 State rebate
$75 (a)
$75 (b)$75 (b)
SA $75 (a)$75 (b)$75 (b)
WA$200 State rebate instalment (c)
$150 (a) (c)
$200 State rebate instalment
$150 (a)
  
TAS$250 State rebate
EBRF 2023-24 payment
$250 State rebate
EBRF 2023-24 payment
$75 (a)
$60 State rebate
$75 (b)
$75 (b)
NT $75 (a)$75 (b)$75 (b)
ACT $75 (a) $75 (b)

(a) 2024-25 EBRF instalment

(b) EBRF 2025 extension instalment

(c) The first payments of the electricity rebate started part way through the month resulting in smaller impact on the CPI than in months where all households, who were billed that month, received the rebate.

Revision to Electricity in July 2025

The Electricity series has been updated to reflect changes to State government electricity concessions to eligible households from July 2025. This has resulted in a revision to the Electricity series for July 2025. There were no revisions to the Housing group or the monthly CPI indicator All groups results. This change does not impact any quarterly results.

For July 2025, the Electricity series was revised from an annual rise of 13.1% to a rise of 13.6% and the monthly was revised from a rise of 13.0% to a rise of 13.5%.

Rents

Rents rose 3.7% in the 12 months to August down from a 3.9% rise in the 12 months to July. This is the lowest annual growth in rental prices since November 2022, consistent with stable vacancy rates across most capital cities. In monthly terms, rental prices rose 0.3% in August. 

  1. Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) maximum rates increased by 15% on top of the usual biannual CPI indexation from 20 September 2023.
  2. Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) maximum rates increased by 10% on top of the usual biannual CPI indexation from 20 September 2024. 

New dwellings

New dwelling prices, which capture new builds and major renovations, rose 0.7% in the 12 months to August, compared to a 0.4% rise in the 12 months to July. 

In the month of August, new dwelling prices rose 0.4% as project home builders increased prices and reduced discounts and promotional offers in some cities.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages

Annual inflation for Food and non-alcoholic beverages was 3.0% to August, unchanged from the annual inflation to July, and has remained around 3% for the past twelve months.

Prices for meat and seafood increased 2.9% in the 12 months to August up from a 2.4 % rise to July. In monthly terms, lamb and goat (+3.7%) and beef and veal (+1.7%) prices had strong growth in the month of August following reduced supply and increased international demand pushing up prices.

Fruit and vegetable prices increased 1.1% in the 12 months to August down from a 4.8% increase to July. The annual rise was driven by apples and strawberries. Vegetable prices fell 4.6% in the month of August with lower prices for broccoli, tomatoes and cauliflower. 

Meals out and takeaway rose 3.3% in the 12 months to August. The is the strongest annual rise recorded in the past year. Higher costs for labour and ingredients have contributed to price increases.

Holiday travel and accommodation

Holiday travel and accommodation prices rose 1.1% in the 12 months to August, following a 3.3% rise in the 12 months to July. 

In monthly terms, Holiday travel and accommodation prices fell 3.5% in August. This was driven by Domestic holiday travel after a drop in demand following the July school holidays. 

Automotive fuel

Automotive fuel prices fell 1.7% in the 12 months to August, compared to a fall of 5.5% in the 12 months to July. Average unleaded fuel prices were 4 cents per litre lower compared to August 2024.

In August, Automotive fuel prices rose 0.8% for the month, following a flat result in July.

Insurance

Insurance prices rose 2.6% in the 12 months to August, after a 3.9% rise in the 12 months to July.  This is the smallest annual growth in insurance in over four years. In monthly terms, insurance rose 1.6% in the month of August, driven by increases in premiums across house, motor vehicle and home contents insurance.

Data downloads

Time Series Spreadsheets

Data files

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Caution: Data in Data Explorer is currently released after the 11:30am release on the ABS website. Please check the reference period when using Data Explorer.

Data explorer for the monthly CPI indicator.

For information on Data Explorer and how it works, see the Data Explorer user guide.

Detailed monthly data

Monthly Expenditure class data

About the monthly CPI indicator

What is the monthly CPI Indicator?

Introducing monthly indicators of underlying inflation

Articles

Measuring Rents in the CPI 

Using price indexes

Price indexes published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provide summary measures of the movements in various categories of prices over time. They are published primarily for use in Government economic analysis. 

Consistent with existing policy, the ABS does not comment on the use (or otherwise) of the price indexes we publish. However, it should be noted that the monthly CPI indicator may be routinely subject to revision, in contrast to the quarterly CPI which is only revised in exceptional circumstances.

Use of Price Indexes in Contracts sets out a range of issues that should be taken into account by parties considering including an Indexation Clause in a contract using an ABS published price index.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) specific to the monthly CPI indicator can be found in the Information paper: Introducing a monthly CPI indicator for Australia FAQs 

In addition, the Frequently Asked Questions page has answers to a number of common questions to do with price indexes and the quarterly Consumer Price Index in particular.

Methodology

Scope

The monthly CPI indicator is a general measure of price change for goods and services purchased by Australian households.

Geography

Monthly data is published at the national level, derived as a weighted average of the eight capital cities.

Source

Prices are collected for a range of goods and services (the CPI basket) from a variety of retailers across the eight capital cities.

Collection method

Prices are collected in a range of frequencies including monthly, quarterly, and annually using: 

  • web-scraping
  • online and telephone collections from retailers
  • administrative data, including supermarket scanner data.

Concepts, sources and methods

Information about the data sources and methods used to compile the CPI is contained in the Consumer Price Index: Concepts, Sources and Methods.

History of changes

  • Annual update of CPI weights January 2025.
  • Annual update of CPI weights January 2024.
  • Partial update of CPI weights July 2023.
  • Monthly Gas series included June 2023.
  • Annual trimmed mean included April 2023.
  • Monthly Electricity included February 2023.
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