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Page 1: Cost of Living Sep 13 - Home | NATSEM NATSEM Working Paper Yr/No NATSEM HOUSEHOLD BUDGET REPORT: COST OF LIVING AND STANDARD OF LIVING INDEXES FOR AUSTRALIA September 2013 Ben Phillips

1

NATSEM Working Paper Yr/No

NATSEM HOUSEHOLD BUDGET

REPORT:

COST OF LIVING AND STANDARD OF

LIVING INDEXES FOR AUSTRALIA

September 2013

Ben Phillips

Principal Research Fellow

December 2013

Page 2: Cost of Living Sep 13 - Home | NATSEM NATSEM Working Paper Yr/No NATSEM HOUSEHOLD BUDGET REPORT: COST OF LIVING AND STANDARD OF LIVING INDEXES FOR AUSTRALIA September 2013 Ben Phillips

About NATSEM

The National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), a research centre at the

University of Canberra, is one of Australia’s leading economic and social policy research institutes,

and is regarded as one of the world’s foremost centres of excellence for microsimulation, economic

modelling and policy evaluation.

NATSEM undertakes independent and impartial research, and aims to be a key contributor to social

and economic policy debate and analysis in Australia and throughout the world through high quality

economic modelling, and supplying consultancy services to commercial, government and

not-for-profit clients. Our research is founded on rigorous empirical analysis conducted by staff with

specialist technical, policy and institutional knowledge.

Research findings are communicated to a wide audience, and receive extensive media and public

attention. Most publications are freely available and can be downloaded from the NATSEM website.

Acting Director: Professor Mark Evans

© NATSEM, University of Canberra 2013

National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling

University of Canberra ACT 2601 Australia

Phone + 61 2 6201 2780 Fax + 61 2 6201 2751

Email [email protected]

Website www.canberra.edu.au/centres/natsem/

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3

Contents

1 Main Points for September 2013 report 5

2 Introduction 6

3 Cost of Living Index 7

4 Standard of Living Index 11

5 Contributions to Cost of Living Changes 15

6 Capital City Cost of Living and Standard of Living Comparison 17

7 Conclusion 19

8 References 21

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Author note

Ben Phillips is a Principal Research Fellow at NATSEM and leads the Income, Wealth and Housing

research team at NATSEM.

General caveat

NATSEM research findings are generally based on estimated characteristics of the population. Such

estimates are usually derived from the application of microsimulation modelling techniques to

microdata based on sample surveys.

These estimates may be different from the actual characteristics of the population because of

sampling and nonsampling errors in the microdata and because of the assumptions underlying the

modelling techniques.

The microdata do not contain any information that enables identification of the individuals or

families to which they refer.

The citation for this paper is: Phillips, B. (2013) NATSEM Household Budget Report: Cost of Living and

Standard of Living Indexes for Australia, September quarter 2013.

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5

1 Main Points for September 2013 report

• The cost of living increased over the typically more inflationary

September quarter by +0.9 per and +1.3 per cent through the year.

• Household incomes +1.5 per cent through quarter and +1.5 per cent

through year well down on the 5 year average growth of 4.5 per cent.

• Financial standard of living +0.6 per cent through quarter and +0.1 per

cent through the year.

• Since 1988, Household incomes grew 63 per cent more than the cost of

living with an average real increase of $291 per week, or $15,112 per

year.

• Australian households defied the Global Financial Crisis with average

household incomes growing 13.2 per cent over the previous 5 years or

$4,740 per annum after cost of living increases.

• Cost of living increases strongest over September 2013 quarter in

Victoria (+1.2 per cent) and lowest in ACT/NT (0.5 per cent).

• Cost of living increases for September 2013 quarter were higher for low

income households (+1 per cent quarter/+1.6 per cent annual) than

high income households (0.8 per cent quarter/+0.9 per cent annual).

• Strongest cost of living increases for home owners (outright) (+1.3 per

cent quarterly/2.2 per cent annual) and renters (+1 per cent

quarter/+2.4 per cent annual)

• Lowest cost of living increases were for home purchasers (0.6 per cent

quarterly/flat through the year).

• Strongest state financial standard of living annual increases in SA (+1.4

per cent) and combined ACT/NT (+3.7 per cent). NSW, QLD and Victoria

all flat through the 12 months to September. WA benign growth of 0.8

per cent through the year – a strong decline in growth on recent years.

• Strongest contributors to cost of living gains through the year were

utilities (+7.4 per cent) and Education (+5.5 per cent) and easing cost of

living pressures, mortgage interest (-14.5 per cent) and audio-visual (-

4.5).

• Sydney has the highest cost of living of capital cities with a $4,476 (7%)

annual premium over the cheapest capital city, Adelaide. The combined

ACT/NT has the highest financial standard of living with Perth the

second highest.

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2 Introduction

In this report we provide a detailed investigation of the cost of living and incomes of Australian

households. The cost of living is an issue that dominates political and social debate. It is often claimed

that the cost of living in Australia is out of control and that household incomes are falling behind that

cost of living. In this report we consider both the cost of living and incomes for a variety of Australian

household types such as high and low income, pensioners, renters, mortgagors and different type of

families to determine their overall financial standard of living. This quarterly report provides a rich set

of information on Australian households since 1988.

NATSEM compiled these statistics based on official data sources from the Australian Bureau of Statistics

(ABS). Data includes all Household expenditure surveys dating back to 1988, detailed capital city based

Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, state and national Australian National Accounts data, housing finance

and Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate data. The report provides an update and expansion of the

AMP.NATSEM Prices these days! publication which AMP and NATSEM released in May, 2012.

Methodologically, the cost of living index is based on the ABS Living Cost Index but expands the scope of

the index to all households, provides a longer time series, and more detail on different types of

households1.

The second half of the standard of living equation is income, or, the benefits of living. Incomes in this

report are based on ABS income and expenditure surveys combined with household information from

the ABS national accounts for the most up-to-date income data.

By comparing changes in the cost of living with changes in incomes we derive how the Australian

household financial standard of living changes through time for a range of household types.

A detailed description of the methodology used to construct the indexes in this report is provided in the

June quarter, 2013 report (Phillips, 2013).

1 Technically, the calculation of a true cost of living index is not feasible, however, the index provided here should be

considered a close approximation. Theoretically, living cost indexes such as the one presented in this paper, are an

over-estimate of the true cost of living due to the well-known ‘CPI bias’. For a full explanation see Diewert, E 1998.

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7

3 Cost of Living Index

Over the 2013 September quarter the cost of living for all households increased by 0.9 per cent. Over

the previous 12 months this increase was a benign 1.3 per cent compared to the long run average of 2.9

per cent since 1988. Figure 1 demonstrates that the cost of living changes remain below average over

recent years.

Figure 1 – Household Cost of Living Annual Change, Australia

Source: NATSEM, ABS

The detailed cost of living increases (Table 1) for the September quarter represent an increase on the

quarterly price increases from the June report. September has a strong seasonal component,

particularly with strong recent increases in utility prices usually impacting in the September quarter.

The largest state cost of living increase was in Victoria, followed by Queensland. The lowest cost

increase was observed in the combined territories (ACT/NT). Over the year to September the highest

cost of living increase was felt in Western Australia and Tasmania with annual increases of a still very

benign 1.4 per cent and the ACT/NT at 1.7 per cent. The lowest annual cost increases were experienced

in South Australia at just 0.7 per cent.

In a similar result to the June report we find that lower income households, renters, government

beneficiaries and single parents experienced the strongest increases in their cost of living. The most

divergent household types were renters and mortgagors2. Over the previous 12 months home

purchasers have experienced no change in their cost of living thanks to lower mortgage interest rates.

Renters have experienced cost increases over the past 12 months of 2.4 per cent with the double

2 Q1 represents the lowest 20 per cent income household which increases to Q5, the richest 20 per cent of income

households. The basis for income is disposable income which is ‘equivalised’ to account for household size differences.

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%Annual Change Average

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whammy of strong rental increases and a larger expenditure share devoted to electricity and gas

expenditure.

Most household types have experienced cost increases below the CPI measure. The CPI does not

include mortgage interest and treats a number of goods and services differently to the NATSEM cost of

living index and the ABS Living Cost Index (the basis for the NATSEM index)3.

Table 1 – September quarter summary results for cost of living index (NATSEM)

Quarterly Annual 5 year Average

State

NSW 0.8% 1.0% 1.8%

VIC 1.2% 1.1% 1.8%

QLD 1.1% 1.1% 1.7%

SA 0.9% 0.7% 1.8%

WA 0.8% 1.4% 1.7%

TAS 0.9% 1.4% 1.7%

ACT/NT 0.5% 1.7% 1.9%

AUST 0.9% 1.3% 1.9%

Income Level

Q1 1.0% 1.6% 2.3%

Q2 1.0% 1.5% 2.1%

Q3 0.9% 1.4% 1.9%

Q4 0.9% 1.1% 1.6%

Q5 0.8% 0.9% 1.4%

Tenure

Owner 1.3% 2.2% 2.3%

Purchaser 0.6% 0.0% 0.9%

Renter 1.0% 2.4% 2.7%

Other 1.1% 2.1% 2.2%

Main Income Source

Wages/Salaries 0.8% 1.0% 1.6%

Business 0.8% 1.0% 1.7%

Government 1.0% 1.9% 2.5%

Other 1.2% 2.0% 2.1%

Family Type

Couple/Kids 0.8% 1.0% 1.6%

Single Parent 0.8% 1.4% 2.1%

Couple Only 0.9% 1.1% 1.6%

Lone 0.9% 1.4% 2.0%

Other/Group 1.0% 1.7% 2.0%

CPI 1.2% 2.2% 2.3%

3 The overall growth of the NATSEM cost of living index is almost identical to the ABS CPI when measured from the starting

point of the NATSEM index (December 1988).

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Over the long term there is little difference in the growth of the cost of living on a state basis. Since

1988, Figure 2a shows the cost of living has grown fractionally quicker in South Australia and

Queensland. The lowest increase in the cost of living is observed in the ACT/NT and Tasmania. South

Australia’s cost of living has grown by around 2.3 per cent more than the national average over the

almost 25 year period. The combined ACT/NT grew by around 3.9 per cent less than average over the

same period. This demonstrates the stability of price change between the states over a long period of

time.

Figure 2a – Household Cost of living by State, Index - December 1988 = 100

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS ACT/NT

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Figure 2b – Household Cost of living by Disposable Income level, Index - December 1988 = 100

Source: NATSEM, ABS

Figure 2b shows the cost of living increases since 1988 for different household income levels. ‘Q1’

or quintile 1 represents the poorest 20 per cent of households while ‘Q5’or quintile 5 represents

the richest 20 per cent of households. There is a modest difference in the overall growth of the

cost of living between income levels. Highest income households have experienced lower cost of

living increases (6.9 per cent lower) since December 1988 compared to low income groups4.

Regardless of the small differences between certain household types all household types have

experienced only quite minor increases in their cost of living through the past year and over the

medium to longer term. All households have experienced particularly small cost of living increases

in recent years with the average cost of living increase only 1.3 per cent over the previous 12

months and an average increase over the previous 5 years of just 1.9 per cent. Renters and

government beneficiaries have experienced modestly higher average increases of 2.7 per cent

and 2.5 per cent respectively over the previous 5 years. Those households purchasing a house

have experienced cost of living increases of only 0.9 per cent, on average.

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5

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11

4 Standard of Living Index

What the cost of living debate often ignores is the incomes that households receive. If a

household’s income increases more strongly than prices for the goods and services they purchase

then their financial standard of living is improving. Figure 3 shows a dramatic increase in

Australia’s financial standard of living over the past 25 years. Overall, Australia’s financial standard

of living has increased by 63 per cent. After accounting for cost of living increases the average

Australian household is ahead by around $291 per week or $15,000 per year.

Over the September quarter average household disposable incomes in Australia increased by 1.5

per cent while the cost of living increased by 0.9 per cent, implying a standard of living increase of

0.6 per cent through the quarter. Through the year the outcome is less impressive with a standard

of living increase of just 0.1 per cent. Figure 3 shows the dramatic drop in the growth of Australian

household standard of living in 2013. The likely principal drivers of such a reduction in growth are

a slower growing economy, a moderately weaker labour market, lower terms of trade and a

mildly tighter government budget. While Australia has become accustomed to a strongly growing

economy and continuously higher living standards, maintaining such growth may not be easy and

is not guaranteed.

Figure 3 – Household Growth in Standard of living index (Income – Cost of living)

-3.0%

-2.0%

-1.0%

0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

6.0%

7.0%

8.0%

De

c-8

9

De

c-9

0

De

c-9

1

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c-9

2

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c-9

3

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c-9

4

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c-9

5

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c-9

6

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c-9

7

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c-9

8

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c-0

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1

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2

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4

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7

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c-0

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c-1

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c-1

2

Annual Growth Average

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12

Figure 4 and Figure 5 provides the state-by-state financial standard of living estimates. Western

Australian households have doubled their financial standard of living over the past 25 years. WA

households have an extra $24,044 per annum in income after their cost of living increases. The

lowest growth state is Tasmania with an increase in their standard of living of around 49 per cent,

leaving average households ahead by $10,246 per year. The strongest gains in both per cent

increase and in raw dollar terms are the combined NT and ACT territories with higher annual

income of $26,354 per year since 1988 and $10,057 per year since 2008.

Figure 4 – Standard of Living, Australia, Index – December 1988 = 100, NATSEM

Source: NATSEM, ABS.

-$2,000

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

$16,000

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

NSW VIC QLD

SA WA TAS

ACT/NT AUST Dollar Gain ($pa RHS)

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Figure 5 – Household Gains in financial standard of living after living costs, $s per year

Source: NATSEM, ABS.

While the last 5 years and certainly the last 25 years provided Australian households with a

significant boost to their financial standard of living the most recent year has not added

materially to the national standard of living. Over the past 12 months Australia’s three largest

states all recorded annual growth rates in standard of living close to zero. Following annual

growth over the 5 years to 2012 of 5.5 per cent, WA recorded growth of just 0.8 per cent in the

12 months to September 2013. The strongest performers were SA and the combined ACT/NT

territories.

$4,842$4,151

$2,910$3,726

$10,760

$2,555

$10,057

$4,741

$15,309$13,436 $13,285 $12,466

$24,044

$10,246

$26,354

$15,112

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS ACT/NT AUST

2008 onwards 1988 onwards

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Figure 6 – State Gains in Household Financial Standard of Living, September 2013

While the annual results are a concern it is important to reflect on the fact that the recent

conservative growth numbers are following on from an extraordinary run of growth, the like of

which may not be seen for decades to come. Maintaining such a run was never a likely

outcome and Australia households face the likelihood of more benign growth in our standard

of living in the short to medium term.

Over the last 5 years household incomes increased across Australia by around 14 per cent after

cost of living increases since 2008. WA benefited most with an increase of over 28 per cent

while each of the three largest states, NSW, Victoria and Queensland gained by a more

moderate, but still healthy, 9 to 14 per cent.

There were strong gains in household standards of living across all household levels; however,

these gains have not been equally spread across income levels since 1988. Figure 7 provides

the distribution of gains by income level. The top 20 per cent of income households (Q5, or

quintile 5) experienced the strongest gains of just over 70 per cent, while the gains of the

bottom 20 per cent (Q1, or quintile 1) were around 42 per cent. The ‘benefits of the boom’

have most strongly gone to the highest income group with sharp increases between 2004 and

2007.

0.4%

0.0%

0.2%

1.3%1.4%

1.1%0.8%

0.6%0.2% 0.0% 0.2%

1.4%

0.8%0.6%

3.7%

0.1%

2.6%2.3%

1.7%

2.2%

5.1%

1.7%

4.0%

2.6%

-1.0%

0.0%

1.0%

2.0%

3.0%

4.0%

5.0%

6.0%

NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS ACT/NT AUST

Quarterly Annual 5 year (annual)

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In raw dollar terms, at December 2011, the lowest income group was ahead by $4,300 per year

while the highest income group is a substantially higher $32,700 per year better off than in

December 19885.

Figure 7 – Standard of Living, Income levels, NATSEM6

Source: NATSEM, ABS.

5 Contributions to Cost of Living Changes

While the overall cost of living increase in the September quarter was an overall 0.9 per cent

and just 1.3 per cent through the year there was, as always, considerable variation amongst

different goods and services in the household basket. Figure 8 provides a more detailed view

of the price changes in the household basket of goods.

Over the last 12 months, the largest increase in consumer inflation was for utilities with a 7.4

per cent jump in prices (which is a reduction in inflation rates compared to recent years).

5 The latest available income distribution data is from the ABS Survey of Income and Housing, 2011-12. Data for

June 2013 is not yet available.

6 Q1 refers to Quintile 1, which is the bottom 20 per cent of household income households using equivalised

disposable income, Q2 refers to Quintile 2 which is percentiles 20 to 40 and so on up to Q5 which is the top 20

per cent of household incomes.

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5

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Other strong contributors were health (+3.9 per cent), education (+5.5 per cent) and alcohol

and tobacco (+4.1 per cent). While these three groups have experienced very strong inflation

they make up around 16 per cent of our index in terms of their ‘weight’ and so it is important

to consider all the other elements of the basket of goods and services.

Offsetting these increases was a drop in mortgage interest payments through the year of 14.5

per cent thanks to standard variable loans declining. Audio-visual equipment also dropped by

4.5 per cent while other groups including household goods and services, personal care,

clothing and footwear and food all barely changed in price over the 12 months to September.

Figure 8 – Price change for Cost of Living detailed groups, NATSEM, ABS.

Source: NATSEM, ABS.

-4.5%

1.8%

5.5%

3.9%

3.7%

0.3%

-14.5%

-0.1%

2.7%

3.2%

3.0%

4.1%

0.5%

-0.8%

4.0%

2.6%

7.4%

-20.0% -15.0% -10.0% -5.0% 0.0% 5.0% 10.0%

Audio Visual

Communication

Education

Health

Holidays, Airfares

Household G&S

Mortgage

Personal Care

Recreation

Rent

Transport

Alcohol, Tobacco

Clothing, Footwear

Food

Housing other

Other

Utilities

An

n

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6 Capital City Cost of Living and Standard of Living

Comparison

How much does the cost of living vary between capital cities of Australia? The above analysis

shows that costs have not altered greatly in terms of the change in prices between capital

cities but do prices vary by level between capitals?

Figure 9 provides estimates of the price of our typical basket of goods and services in Australia,

and then the same basket repriced specifically in each capital city of Australia78. Sydney is the

most expensive capital city with the typical basket of goods costing $68,023 per annum9.

Adelaide has the lowest cost of living, cheaper by $4,476 per year compared to Sydney. Darwin

and Canberra are similar to Sydney with respect to their cost of living. Melbourne has a $2,139

discount compared to Sydney. Hobart is the second cheapest capital city, only marginally more

expensive than Adelaide. Perth and Brisbane sit in the middle of the capital city cost of living

comparison.

7 These estimates are based on ABS ‘experimental’ spatial price research with some data gaps overcome by

NATSEM and updating to the most recent ABS CPI release. The estimates remain experimental and should only

be considered as a guide and only relevant to the ‘average’ dwelling in Sydney. In some states it is likely that

expenditure patters will differ from Sydney. For example, Canberra households devote a larger share of

expenditure to gas and electricity than Sydney due to greater heating needs in winter. This analysis does not

account for such regional differences in ‘quantity’ of purchase.

8 The methodology has been altered in the September publication with the average ‘basket of goods’ relating to the

Australian average, rather than Sydney. This has altered the price level and price relativities in the index.

9 This figure relates to the average expenditure across all households.

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Figure 9 – Capital City Cost of Living Comparison to Sydney, June 2013, NATSEM, ABS

Source: NATSEM, ABS.

As emphasised throughout this report cost is only one part of the standard of living equation –

income is equally important. While Adelaide has the lowest cost of living it also has relatively

low average household incomes.

Using All Capitals as the benchmark Figure 10 considers both the income and the cost of each

capital city compared to our benchmark. After accounting for both income and cost we find

that both the ACT and Darwin have a financial standard of living around 30 to 35 per cent

higher than the all capitals average. Perth is around 23 per cent higher while Sydney,

Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide have marginally lower standards of living compared to the

all capitals average. Hobart has a standard of living around 17 per cent lower than average and

a staggering 38 per cent lower than the highest standard of living city, Canberra.

$68,023

$65,884

$64,599

$63,547

$65,951

$64,076

$67,406 $67,537

$66,073

$61,000

$62,000

$63,000

$64,000

$65,000

$66,000

$67,000

$68,000

$69,000

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Figure 10 – Standard of Living Index, Capital Cities, NATSEM, ABS

Source: NATSEM, ABS.

7 Conclusion

NATSEM’s cost of living index shows that prices in Australia are very much under control with

annual changes in the cost of living at only 1.3 per cent through the year to September 2013.

The cost of living increased by 0.9 per cent in the September quarter. Benign price rises are

estimated across all household types although lower income groups and renters have

experienced moderately higher cost of living increases compared to higher income groups,

particularly mortgagors who have benefited from very low interest rates through the previous

12 months.

NATSEM’s standard of living index shows that after a run of strong household income growth

we are now experiencing much more subdued income growth. Over the 12 months to

September household incomes grew by only 0.1 per cent more than the cost of living.

Following on from a rise of around 63 per cent in after-cost of living increases since 1988 this

still leaves households in a remarkably strong position.

96.8 97.794.2 96.5

123.1

82.6

131.7134.5

100.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

110.0

120.0

130.0

140.0

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While SA and the combined territories continue to enjoy healthy household incomes and gains

to their financial standard of living we find that NSW, Victoria and Queensland are struggling to

improve their standard of living with all three states effectively flat over the past 12 months.

WA’s incredible income growth in recent years is showing signs of slowing with growth in

household incomes of only 0.8 per cent after their cost of living increases which is well down

on their average growth of 5.4 per cent over the previous 5 years.

There are certain services such as utilities, health and education that have risen in price much

more sharply than the general cost of living, however, these price increases have been offset

by low or negative price increases for mortgages, clothing and footwear and many imported

high technology goods such as audio-visual equipment and household goods and services.

Sydney remains Australia’s highest cost capital city, with a premium of over $4,476 per year

compared to the cheapest city, Adelaide. Canberra and the NT have the highest standard of

living while Hobart has the lowest standard of living of the capital cities in Australia. The main

drivers of differences in the cost of living between cities relate to the high cost of housing in

Sydney. The higher standard of living in Canberra, NT and Perth relates to significantly higher

household incomes than other cities and regions of Australia.

This report does not suggest that there are not families who face financial hardships; however,

it does show that most socioeconomic groups and regions are better placed financially than in

the past. While Australian households have enjoyed significant improvements to their financial

standard of living through the last decade it would seem that such strong growth may not be

repeated in the coming years as the economy struggles with a lower terms of trade, weaker

jobs growth and tighter budgets at both the state and federal level. With relatively benign

price growth and very low mortgage rates many households are however, maintaining, and for

some, increasing their standard of living in spite of the economic head winds.

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8 References

Australian Bureau of Statistics, (1988) Household Expenditure Survey, 6540.0 Microdata.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, (1993) Household Expenditure Survey, 6540.0 Microdata.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, (1998) Household Expenditure Survey, 6540.0 Microdata.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2003) Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and

Housing, 6503.0 Microdata.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2003) Comparing Living Costs in Australian Capital Cities, 32nd

Conference of Economist.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2009) Household Expenditure Survey and Survey of Income and

Housing, 6503.0 Microdata.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2013) Selected Living Cost Indexes, Australia, Jun 2013.

Diewert, E (1998) Index Number Issues in the Consumer Price Index, Journal of Economic

Perspectives, V12, pp 47-58.

Phillips, B (2012). Prices these days! The Cost of Living in Australia.

Phillips, B (2013). NATSEM Household Budget Report, June 2013 .

More information

Further publications related to this topic can be found on NATSEM’s

website at www.natsem.canberra.edu.au. To learn more about

Income, Wealth and Housing research at NATSEM or for media calls,

contact:

Ben Phillips: Ph. +61 2 6201 2760 M. 0403 929 395

[email protected]

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