Aust C.P.I. falls slightly
NZPA-AAP Canberra The cost of living in Australia fell 0.4 per cent in the March quarter this year. However, ■ the figure is artificially low because of the removal of much of the cost of health care from the Consumer Price Index. The Medicare levy introduced on February 1 is regarded as a tax and therefore outside the scope of the C.P.I. The March quarter C.P.1., issued in Canberra yesterday by the Statistics Bureau, showed the cost of health and personal care fell by 19.3 per cent as a result of the changes in health insurance arrangements.
However, food prices rose by 1.6 per cent, clothing was up 0.4 per cent, household equipment and maintenance 0.7 per cent, transport also 0.7 per cent, tobacco and alcohol 1.8 per cent, and recreation and education costs were up 2.1 per cent. The weighted average in-
crease in the eight capital cities for the 12 months ended March 31 was 5.9 per cent, with Melbourne registering the biggest increase at 6.9 per cent. Increases in other cities over the same period were: Sydney 4.9 per cent; Brisbane 5.8 per cent; Adelaide 6.2 per cent; Perth six per cent; Hobart 5.8 per cent; Canberra 5.7 per cent and Darwin 5.1 per cent. In March alone, the figures were: Sydney and Melbourne, each down 0.5 per cent; Brisbane and Hobart, each up 0.2 per cent; Perth down 0.9 per cent, Canberra up 0.1 per cent and Darwin up 0.5 per cent. There was no change in Adelaide.
The annual inflation rate of 5.9 per cent at the end of the March quarter compared with 8.6 per cent at the end of the December quarter and 11.5 per cent a vear earlier.
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Press, 17 May 1984, Page 17
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289Aust C.P.I. falls slightly Press, 17 May 1984, Page 17
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