Consumers Price Index: September 2005 Quarter
Petrol Pushes up CPI
The Consumers Price Index (CPI) increased 1.1 percent in the September 2005 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today.
The most significant contributions to the increase came from higher prices for transportation and housing.
Transportation prices were up 3.5 percent in the September 2005 quarter, with the most significant increases coming from
petrol (up 13.1 percent) and international air travel (up 3.0 percent). If petrol prices had not changed from the June
2005 quarter to the September 2005 quarter, the CPI would have increased 0.7 percent.
Housing prices increased 1.6 percent in the September 2005 quarter, mainly due to price increases for local authority
rates (up 6.2 percent), and the purchase and construction of new dwellings (up 1.0 percent).
Over the 12 months to the September 2005 quarter, the CPI rose 3.4 percent. The most significant price rises were for
petrol (up 20.3 percent), and the purchase and construction of new dwellings (up 6.6 percent). Significant price falls
came from international air travel (down 5.1 percent) and fresh vegetables (down 11.8 percent). Further, if prices for
petrol had remained unchanged from the September 2004 quarter to the September 2005 quarter, the CPI would have
increased 2.7 percent.
In the September 2005 quarter, the non-tradable component (up 1.1 percent) made the largest contribution to the CPI all
groups movement. The tradable component increased 1.1 percent in the quarter.
Brian Pink
Government Statistician
ENDS