Consumers Price Index: March 2011 quarter

In the March 2011 quarter compared with the December 2010 quarter:

• The consumers price index (CPI) rose 0.8 percent.
• The main upward contribution came from transport (up 2.5 percent), reflecting higher prices for petrol and diesel.
• Cigarette and tobacco prices rose 9.4 percent, influenced by a rise of 11.64 percent in excise duty on 1 January 2011. 
• Food prices rose 1.2 percent, with higher prices for grocery food and for meat, poultry, and fish.

From the March 2010 quarter to the March 2011 quarter:

• The CPI increased 4.5 percent*, including a 2.3 percent increase in the December 2010 quarter when GST rose from 12.5 to 15 percent.

* The CPI would have risen by 2.6 percent in the year to the March 2011 quarter if prices had been processed with a rate of GST at 12.5 percent. See the last two sections of the commentary for more information.

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.