Consumers Price Index: December 2011 quarter

In the December 2011 quarter compared with the September 2011 quarter:

• The consumers price index (CPI) fell 0.3 percent. 
• The main downward contribution came from the food group (down 2.2 percent), reflecting lower prices for vegetables.
• Communication prices fell 3.5 percent, reflecting lower Internet charges and international phone calling rates. 
• Transport prices rose 1.4 percent, reflecting seasonally higher prices for international air transport.

From the December 2010 quarter to the December 2011 quarter:

• The CPI increased 1.8 percent. This compares with a 4.6 percent increase for the year to the September 2011 quarter. The lower increase is partly due to the fact that the latest annual increase does not include most of the effects of the GST increase that occurred in October 2010. 

The CPI measures the rate of price change of goods and services purchased by households. Statistics NZ visits 3,000 shops around New Zealand to collect prices for the CPI and check product sizes and features.