The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.1% in the March quarter 2012, compared with no change in the December quarter 2011.


The most significant price rises in the March quarter 2012 were for pharmaceutical products (+14.1%), secondary education (+7.7%), automotive fuel (+2.5%), medical and hospital services (+2.1%), tertiary education (+4.7%) and rents (+1.0%). The most significant offsetting price falls were for fruit (–30.0%), international holiday travel and accommodation (–4.8%), furniture (–6.0%), audio, visual and computing equipment (–6.3%) and domestic holiday travel and accommodation (–2.0%).

The CPI rose 1.6% through the year to the March quarter 2012, compared with a rise of 3.1% through the year to the December quarter 2011.

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