Consumers Price Index: September 2008 quarter

In the September 2008 quarter compared with the June 2008 quarter:

• The Consumers Price Index (CPI) rose 1.5 percent.
• Food prices increased 3.7 percent, driven by higher prices for vegetables.
• Housing and household utilities prices rose 1.4 percent, driven by higher prices for local authority rates and payments.
• Transport prices rose 2.0 percent, with the main contribution coming from higher prices for petrol.

From the September 2007 quarter to the September 2008 quarter:

• The CPI increased 5.1 percent, the highest annual increase since the year to the June 1990 quarter.

The CPI basket of goods and services has been updated and reweighted. For details see the commentary and tables section (table 9).