Database Specific
Database Specific Abstract AbstractThe Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures quarterly changes in the price of a 'basket' of goods and services which account for a high proportion of expenditure by the CPI population group (i.e. metropolitan households).
Source Source Contact person/organisation Contact person/organisationNational Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
Name of collection/source Name of collection/sourceConsumer Price Index, Australia (cat. 6401.0)
Source Periodicity Source PeriodicityThe frequency of price collection by item varies as necessary to obtain reliable price measures. Prices of some items are volatile (i.e. their prices may vary many times each quarter) and for these items frequent price observations are necessary to obtain a reliable measure of the average price for the quarter.
Data Characteristics Data Characteristics Base period Base periodFrom the September quarter 2012, all index numbers will be calculated on a new index reference period of 2011–12. This will result in the index numbers for each index series being reset to 100.0 for the financial year 2011–12. Period-to-period percentage changes may differ slightly to those previously published due to rounding and the re-referencing. These differences do not constitute a revision. Re–referencing conversion factors are available from the ABS website in the 'Downloads' tab of this issue as 'Table 17 – CPI conversion factors, from index reference period 1989–90 to 2011–12'. Further information on re-referencing can be found in Appendix 1 of this issue, and in Chapter 12 of Consumer Price Index: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2011 (cat. no. 6461.0).
Other data characteristics Other data characteristicsThe CPI uses a hierarchy of rounding procedures to ensure consistency between published index numbers and percentage changes. However, rounding differences can arise in points contributions because of the different levels of precision required in those data.
Periodicity PeriodicityStock - Quarterly
Population & Scope Population & Scope Geographic coverage Geographic coverageThe index covers private household expenditure in the eight State and Territory capital cities.
Item coverage Item coverageThe 'basket' (see Abstract) covers a wide range of goods and services arranged in the following eleven groups: Food and non-alcoholic beverages, Alcohol and tobacco, Clothing and footwear, Housing, Furnishings, household equipment and services, Health, Transport, Communication, Recreation and culture, Education, Insurance and financial services.
Other coverage Other coverageVarious series are also presented which are helpful for analytical purposes. Refer to paragraphs 11 to 12 of the Explanatory Notes for a description of these series
Statistical population Statistical populationAustralia and major capital cities.
Concepts & Classifications Concepts & Classifications Index type Index typeThe capital city indexes measure price movements over time in each State and Territory capital city individually. They do not measure differences in retail price levels between cities.
Key statistical concept Key statistical conceptIndices shown for Consumer Prices are the most frequently used indicators of inflation and reflect changes in the cost of acquiring a fixed basket of goods and services by the average consumer.
Weights WeightsThere are 87 expenditure classes (grouping of the like items) in the 16th series CPI and each expenditure class has its own weight, or measure of relative importance. In calculating the index, price changes for the various expenditure classes are combined using these weights. The current and historical weighting patterns for the CPI for the weighted average of the eight capital cities is published in Consumer Price Index: Historical Weighting Patterns (cat. no. 6431.0), available on the ABS website.
Other Aspects Other Aspects Quality comments Quality comments Recommended uses and limitations Recommended uses and limitationsMovements in indexes from one period to another can be expressed either as changes in index points or as percentage changes. An example cited in paragraph 8 of the Explanatory Notes illustrates the method of calculating changes in index points and percentage changes between any two periods. Comparing the headline figure to other countries is often inappropriate because of different measurement approaches used by countries for certain products. The index excluding housing and financial services is a better basis for international comparisons.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures quarterly changes in the price of a 'basket' of goods and services which account for a high proportion of expenditure by the CPI population group (i.e. metropolitan households).
National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. 6401.0)
The frequency of price collection by item varies as necessary to obtain reliable price measures. Prices of some items are volatile (i.e. their prices may vary many times each quarter) and for these items frequent price observations are necessary to obtain a reliable measure of the average price for the quarter.
Stock - Quarterly
From the September quarter 2012, all index numbers will be calculated on a new index reference period of 2011–12. This will result in the index numbers for each index series being reset to 100.0 for the financial year 2011–12. Period-to-period percentage changes may differ slightly to those previously published due to rounding and the re-referencing. These differences do not constitute a revision. Re–referencing conversion factors are available from the ABS website in the 'Downloads' tab of this issue as 'Table 17 – CPI conversion factors, from index reference period 1989–90 to 2011–12'. Further information on re-referencing can be found in Appendix 1 of this issue, and in Chapter 12 of Consumer Price Index: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2011 (cat. no. 6461.0).
The CPI uses a hierarchy of rounding procedures to ensure consistency between published index numbers and percentage changes. However, rounding differences can arise in points contributions because of the different levels of precision required in those data.
Australia and major capital cities.
The index covers private household expenditure in the eight State and Territory capital cities.
The 'basket' (see Abstract) covers a wide range of goods and services arranged in the following eleven groups: Food and non-alcoholic beverages, Alcohol and tobacco, Clothing and footwear, Housing, Furnishings, household equipment and services, Health, Transport, Communication, Recreation and culture, Education, Insurance and financial services.
Various series are also presented which are helpful for analytical purposes. Refer to paragraphs 11 to 12 of the Explanatory Notes for a description of these series
Indices shown for Consumer Prices are the most frequently used indicators of inflation and reflect changes in the cost of acquiring a fixed basket of goods and services by the average consumer.
The capital city indexes measure price movements over time in each State and Territory capital city individually. They do not measure differences in retail price levels between cities.
There are 87 expenditure classes (grouping of the like items) in the 16th series CPI and each expenditure class has its own weight, or measure of relative importance. In calculating the index, price changes for the various expenditure classes are combined using these weights. The current and historical weighting patterns for the CPI for the weighted average of the eight capital cities is published in Consumer Price Index: Historical Weighting Patterns (cat. no. 6431.0), available on the ABS website.
Movements in indexes from one period to another can be expressed either as changes in index points or as percentage changes. An example cited in paragraph 8 of the Explanatory Notes illustrates the method of calculating changes in index points and percentage changes between any two periods. Comparing the headline figure to other countries is often inappropriate because of different measurement approaches used by countries for certain products. The index excluding housing and financial services is a better basis for international comparisons.