The latest figures of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show the Consumer Price Index rose 0.5 per cent in the December quarter of 2009, compared with a rise of one per cent in the September quarter.
The most significant price rises this quarter were for fruit (+15.9 per cent), domestic holiday travel and accommodation (+6.6 per cent), house purchase (+1 per cent), rent (+1 per cent) and beer (+2.1 per cent).
The most significant offsetting price falls were automotive fuel (–2.8 per cent), audio, visual and computing equipment (–7.1 per cent) and pharmaceuticals (–5.3 per cent).
According to the ABS, the Consumer Price Index rose 2.1 per cent through the year to the December quarter 2009, compared to an annual rise of 1.3 per cent to the September quarter 2009.
Household contents and services remained steady for the quarter. Furniture (1.4 per cent), tools (1.3 per cent) and hairdressing and personal care (0.9 per cent) products all demonstrated growth but this was offset by major household appliances (-2.8 per cent), glassware, tableware and household utensils (-1.3 per cent) and toiletries and personal products (-0.6 per cent), which all saw decreases.