The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has recorded a 1.4 per cent jump in the September quarter, compared to just 0.5 per cent in the previous quarter, according to the latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

 

The most significant price rises in the September quarter 2012 were for electricity (+15.3%), international holiday travel and accommodation (+6.6%), medical and hospital services (+4.5%), vegetables (+10.5%) and gas and other household fuels (+14.2%). The most significant offsetting price falls were for automotive fuel (–3.9%), motor vehicles (–1.0%), pharmaceutical products (–2.6%), domestic holiday travel and accommodation (–1.3%) and other financial services (–0.9%).



The CPI rose 2.0% through the year to the September quarter 2012, compared with a rise of 1.2% through the year to the June quarter 2012. This is the largest quarterly rise since the March quarter 2011 (+1.4%) and the largest annual rise since the December quarter 2011 (+3.0%).

 

The ABS said it was unable to qualify the impact of the Carbon Tax on the country’s inflation rates.

 

Further information is available in Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6401.0).