Consumer Price Index, Australia

Latest release

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures household inflation and includes statistics about price change for categories of household expenditure

Reference period
March Quarter 2025
Released
30/04/2025
  • Next Release 30/07/2025
    Consumer Price Index, Australia, June Quarter 2025
  • Next Release 29/10/2025
    Consumer Price Index, Australia, September Quarter 2025
  • View all releases

Key statistics

  • The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.9% this quarter.
  • Over the twelve months to the March 2025 quarter, the CPI rose 2.4%.
  • The most significant price rises this quarter were Housing (+1.7%), Education (+5.2%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+1.2%).
  • Partially offsetting the rise were Recreation and culture (-1.6%) and Furnishings, household equipment and services (-0.9%).

What's new this quarter

Update to the CPI weights

The CPI weights are regularly updated to ensure the weights used in the CPI basket reflect contemporary household spending patterns. This quarter includes the introduction of updated CPI weighting patterns for 2025. For more details see Annual weight update of the CPI.

Monthly CPI Indicator

The latest monthly inflation data can be found in the Monthly CPI Indicator. For more information on how the Monthly CPI Indicator relates to the quarterly CPI see Introducing a monthly CPI indicator for Australia

Complete monthly measure of the CPI

The ABS will release a complete monthly CPI in late 2025, as part of its transformative program called Big Data, Timely Insights: Phase 2 (BDTI2). Information is available on the Complete monthly measure of the CPI

Main features

 

Weighted average of eight capital cities
Weighted average of eight capital citiesDec Qtr 2024 to Mar Qtr 2025 Mar Qtr 2024 to Mar Qtr 2025
 (% change)(% change)
All groups CPI0.92.4
Food and non-alcoholic beverages1.23.2
Alcohol and tobacco1.26.5
Clothing and footwear-0.81.7
Housing1.72.0
Furnishings, household equipment and services-0.90.7
Health2.94.1
Transport1.0-1.0
Communication-0.30.0
Recreation and culture-1.61.7
Education5.25.7
Insurance and financial services0.53.8
CPI analytical series  
All groups CPI, seasonally adjusted0.92.4
Trimmed mean0.72.9
Weighted median0.73.0

Overview

Trimmed mean inflation lowest since December 2021

Annual CPI inflation was 2.4 per cent in the March quarter, unchanged from the December quarter. The Trimmed mean provides a view of underlying inflation by reducing the effect of irregular or temporary price changes that can impact the CPI.  Trimmed mean annual inflation was 2.9 per cent, down from 3.3 per cent in the December quarter.

Annual inflation for Services lowest since June 2022

Annual Services inflation eased to 3.7 per cent in the March quarter, down from 4.3 per cent in the December quarter driven by lower price increases for Rents and Insurance. Annual Goods inflation increased to 1.3 per cent in the March quarter, up from 0.8 per cent in the December quarter largely due to Electricity prices increasing in the March quarter (see below for more details on Electricity).

Annual inflation easing for most Services categories

Annual Services inflation has continued to ease for most services categories in recent quarters. The lower annual Services inflation in the March quarter was driven by moderating price growth for Insurance and Rents.

Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates reduce electricity bills

Electricity prices rose 16.3 per cent this quarter. This follows falls of 17.3 per cent in the September quarter and 9.9 per cent in the December quarter due to the introduction of the second round of the Commonwealth Energy Bill Relief Fund (EBRF) rebates from July 2024, which was expanded to include all households.

The rise this quarter was expected as most households in Brisbane have used up the $1,000 Queensland State government electricity rebate resulting in higher out of pocket electricity costs. Some households in the remaining states and territories also saw increases in the amounts payable on their electricity bills this quarter compared to last quarter. This was due to the impact from the Commonwealth EBRF rebates being lower in the March quarter compared to the December quarter due to the timing of rebate payments. Households in some states and territories received catch up payments (two $75 instalments) in the December quarter compared to only one instalment of the EBRF this quarter.

Excluding the rebates, electricity prices would have risen by 0.4 per cent in the March 2025 quarter. 

Despite the quarterly rise, electricity prices are down by 11.5 per cent compared to 12 months ago.

The following graph shows the impact the rebates have had on the Electricity series in the CPI since the September 2023 quarter when the EBRF rebates were first introduced.

  1. Introduction of the 2023-24 Energy Bill Relief Fund (EBRF) for concession households in NSW, VIC, SA, TAS, NT and ACT, and all households in QLD and WA, from July 2023
  2. Introduction of the first instalment of 2024-25 Commonwealth EBRF rebates for all households, and State government rebates in QLD, WA and TAS, from July 2024
  3. Introduction of the second instalment of 2024-25 Commonwealth EBRF rebates for all households, and the second instalment of the WA State government rebate
  4. Introduction of the third instalment of the 2024-25 Commonwealth EBRF rebates for all households in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, TAS, NT and ACT
 Commonwealth $300 rebateWA $400 State rebateQLD $1,000 State rebateTAS $250 State rebate (Renewable Energy Dividend)
Rebate methodApplied directly to electricity bills as four equal $75 quarterly instalments in the 2024-25 FY (a)Applied directly to electricity bills as two equal $200 instalments from July and December 2024Applied directly to electricity bills as a one-off $1,000 rebate. Where the rebate amount exceeds the average bill size, the residual amount is treated as a credit and applied to the next quarterly bill.Applied directly to electricity bills as a one-off $250 rebate
TimingFrom July 2024 for WA (b) and QLD. For all remaining States and Territories, from August 2024. (c) and (d)From July 2024 (b)From July 2024From July 2024
  1. This applies to all States and Territories, except WA, where rebates have been applied directly to electricity bills as two equal $150 instalments from July 2024 and December 2024.
  2. In Western Australia, the first instalment of both Energy Bill Relief Fund 2024-25 and $400 Electricity Credit has been paid from 20 July 2024. The remaining proportion of households whose billing cycle is in July 2024 have received their first instalment in October 2024. The second instalment of rebates has been paid from 7 December 2024. The remaining proportion of households whose billing cycle is in December 2024 have received their second instalment in March 2025.
  3. For States and Territories receiving rebates from August, the households whose billing cycle is in July 2024 have received two instalments in October 2024.
  4. In New South Wales and Victoria, the first instalment of Energy Bill Relief Fund 2024-25 has been paid from part way through August 2024. The remaining proportion of households whose billing cycle is in August have received their first instalment in November 2024. In Victoria, the third instalment of Energy Bill Relief Fund 2024-25 has been paid from part way through January 2025. The remaining proportion of households whose billing cycle is in January will receive their third instalment in April 2025. 

Annual price growth continues to ease for both New dwellings and Rents

New dwelling prices rose 1.4 per cent over the 12 months to the March quarter, down from 2.9 per cent in the December quarter. This is the weakest annual rise since the June 2021 quarter. 

The lower annual price growth in new dwellings reflects project home builders increasing incentives and promotional offers to entice new business in a subdued new home market. 

Rental prices rose 5.5 per cent over the 12 months to the March quarter, down from 6.4 per cent in the December quarter. The easing in annual rental price growth reflects increased vacancy rates across most capital cities. 

The rate of annual growth in rental prices has also been moderated by changes to Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA). The maximum rate available for CRA increased by 10 per cent on 20 September 2024, in addition to the usual biannual CPI indexation on 20 March and 20 September each year. These increases to CRA have reduced the amount of rent payable by eligible tenants.

Excluding the changes to CRA, rents would have increased by 6.8 per cent over the 12 months to the March 2025 quarter, compared to 7.8 per cent over the 12 months to the December 2024 quarter.

  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. 

Annual food inflation increases slightly

Food prices rose 3.2 per cent over the 12 months to the March quarter, up from 3.0 per cent in the December quarter. Meat and seafood prices rose 4.3 per cent compared to 12 months ago, the largest annual increase since the December 2022 quarter.  The rise in Meat and seafood prices was driven by lamb and goat prices increasing by 19.7 per cent in the past 12 months. Fruit and vegetable prices (+6.6 per cent) continue to remain elevated. Fruit prices were up by 12.2 per cent compared to March quarter 2024 due to higher prices for avocados, bananas and strawberries.

Annual increase in education fees remains elevated compared to pre-COVID-19

The Education group, which covers primary, secondary and tertiary education, rose 5.2 per cent in March quarter 2025. The rise was driven by an increase in Preschool and primary education (+5.6 per cent), and secondary education (+6.4 per cent), as higher operating costs were passed through as higher fees. Tertiary education (+3.6 per cent) rose following the indexation of higher education course fees.

Main contributors to change

CPI groups

Food and non-alcoholic beverages group (+1.2%)

Alcohol and tobacco group (+1.2%)

Clothing and footwear group (-0.8%)

Housing group (+1.7%)

Furnishings, household equipment and services group (-0.9%)

Health group (+2.9%)

Transport group (+1.0%)

Communication group (-0.3%)

Recreation and culture group (-1.6%)

Education group (+5.2%)

Insurance and financial services group (+0.5%)

International trade exposure - tradables and non-tradables

Discretionary and non-discretionary inflation

Underlying inflation series

Seasonally adjusted analytical series

Capital cities comparison

All groups CPI

All groups CPI, index numbers and percentage changes
 Index number(a)Percentage change (%)
 Mar Qtr 2025Dec Qtr 2024 to Mar Qtr 2025Mar Qtr 2024 to Mar Qtr 2025
Sydney140.90.92.3
Melbourne140.70.92.3
Brisbane142.91.92.7
Adelaide141.20.52.2
Perth138.60.52.8
Hobart140.00.81.4
Darwin134.60.71.7
Canberra138.60.92.2
Weighted average of eight capital cities140.70.92.4
  1. Index reference period: 2011-12 = 100.0.

Capital city highlights:

At the All groups level, all eight capital cities recorded rises, ranging from 0.5% in Adelaide and Perth to 1.9% in Brisbane.

Sydney (+0.9%)

Melbourne (+0.9%)

Brisbane (+1.9%)

Adelaide (+0.5%)

Perth (+0.5%)

Hobart (+0.8%)

Darwin (+0.7%)

Canberra (+0.9%)

Quarterly percentage change by capital city
GroupSydneyMelbourneBrisbaneAdelaidePerthHobartDarwinCanberraWeighted average of eight capital cities
All groups0.90.91.90.50.50.80.70.90.9
Food & non-alcoholic beverages1.01.21.91.21.31.51.41.01.2
Alcohol & tobacco1.31.11.40.91.31.41.11.71.2
Clothing & footwear-0.5-0.5-2.2-2.0-0.2-1.50.4-1.7-0.8
Housing1.41.16.71.7-1.61.21.10.51.7
Furnishings, household equipment and services-1.1-0.9-0.5-1.4-0.6-0.7-0.3-0.2-0.9
Health2.82.93.31.63.12.12.43.92.9
Transport1.00.51.40.01.51.22.42.71.0
Communication-0.3-0.3-0.4-0.4-0.3-0.3-0.4-0.3-0.3
Recreation & culture-1.5-1.1-2.6-2.0-1.2-1.5-3.7-1.9-1.6
Education5.15.54.74.35.54.55.06.05.2
Insurance & financial services0.30.71.1-0.70.90.70.51.40.5

Trimmed mean measure

The following table summarises the Expenditure Classes that were excluded ('trimmed out') as part of the calculation of the quarterly Trimmed Mean.

There are three steps involved in calculating the Trimmed Mean. Firstly, the seasonally adjusted quarterly percentage changes for each of the 87 CPI Expenditure Classes (ECs) are calculated and ranked from lowest to highest. Each EC has a weight that represents the proportion of expenditure spent on it out of total household expenditure. The second step uses these weights to work out which ECs (including parts of the ECs that are on the 15 per cent and 85 per cent borders) make up the top and bottom 15 per cent of the distribution. These are the ECs that are 'trimmed out'. Finally, the Trimmed Mean is calculated as the weighted average of the quarterly movements for the remaining 70 per cent of ECs by weight.

Two important points to note about how the Trimmed mean is calculated are:

  1. The selection and number of ECs trimmed changes from quarter to quarter depending on the distribution of the quarterly movements and the weights of the ECs at the lower and upper end of the distribution.
  2. To produce the Trimmed mean, the seasonally adjusted quarterly movement for each EC is used. Without the use of seasonally adjusted movements, some ECs may always be excluded from the Trimmed mean due to the volatile nature of their price change resulting from seasonal factors (e.g. holiday travel).

For more details about the Trimmed mean see Underlying Inflation Measures: Explaining the Trimmed Mean
 

March 2025 quarter Trimmed mean

Lower trim 
CPI Expenditure class

Quarterly movement (%)

(seasonally adjusted)

Status
Audio, visual and computing equipment -2.1Trimmed
Footwear for men -2.0Trimmed
Household textiles -1.8Trimmed
International holiday travel and accommodation -1.6Trimmed
Major household appliances -1.6Trimmed
Books -1.2Trimmed
Equipment for sports, camping and open-air recreation-0.8Trimmed
Garments for men -0.6Trimmed
Garments for infants and children -0.5Trimmed
New dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers -0.4Trimmed
Motor vehicles -0.4Partially trimmed

 

 

Upper trim 
CPI Expenditure class

Quarterly movement (%)

(seasonally adjusted)

Status
Medical and hospital services1.6Partially trimmed
Veterinary and other services for pets1.6Trimmed
Sports participation1.6Trimmed
Tertiary education1.8Trimmed
Child care1.8Trimmed
Automotive fuel1.9Trimmed
Secondary education2.1Trimmed
Tobacco2.1Trimmed
Personal care products2.2Trimmed
Footwear for infants and children2.2Trimmed
Preschool and primary education3.0Trimmed
Electricity12.2Trimmed

Selected tables - capital cities

All groups CPI, index numbers(a)

All groups CPI, percentage changes

Longer term series: All groups CPI, weighted average of eight capital cities, index numbers

Data downloads

Time series spreadsheets

Time series spreadsheets

Data files

Article archive

CPI feature articles

Measuring Rents in the CPI

Using price indexes

Price indexes in contracts

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. Price indexes are also often used in contracts by businesses and government to adjust payments and/or charges to take account of changes in categories of prices (Indexation Clauses).

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

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

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 6401.0.

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