ABS CPI June quarter 2012 rises 0.5%

The Consumer Price Index rose 0.5% in the June quarter 2012, compared with a rise of 0.1% in the March quarter 2012. The most significant price rise in the June quarter 2012 was for medical and hospital services (+2.8%) which rose mainly as a result of the increases in private health fund premiums effective from 1 April 2012. The CPI rose 1.2% through the year to the June quarter 2012, compared with a rise of 1.6% through the year to the March quarter 2012.