How have prices changed over time?
Explore Australia’s inflation history, compare price changes across categories and follow essential versus optional purchases.
Compare the price journey.
Every line starts at 0%. Select any categories to compare with the overall basket. Select a category again to remove it.
In ABS category names, n.e.c. means not elsewhere classified — items not separately listed under a more specific category.
Published quarterly category indices. All lines use the same starting quarter and are rebased to 0%.
Two baskets. Different price journeys.
Compare non-discretionary and discretionary prices, first by their annual rate of change, then by the total change over time.
Annual inflation (%)
Cumulative price change (%)
Discretionary includes tobacco. Quarterly history is calculated from ABS data; monthly annual rates are published ABS figures.
How is the quarterly history calculated?
From the December 2025 quarter, each quarterly index is the average of the three published monthly index values. The earlier ABS quarterly history is rescaled to meet the monthly quarter-average at September 2025, preserving earlier percentage movements. Annual inflation and cumulative changes are calculated from these linked index values.
This is a calculated series, not a published ABS quarterly discretionary series. Annual comparisons that cross the September 2025 link combine the earlier quarterly and newer monthly measures. Calculations use the rounded indices published by the ABS. Incomplete quarters are excluded.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics CPI. ABS explanation of quarterly calculations. The historical link is calculated by the OD Engine.
What’s included?
The ABS groups goods and services into discretionary and non-discretionary purchases. What is optional varies between households. Discretionary purchases include tobacco.