All Australian households experienced increases in the cost of living last quarter, with welfare recipients the hardest hit.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows rises in quarterly living costs in the March 2025 quarter ranging from 0.6 percent to 1.6 percent.
ABS Acting Head of Prices Statistics Neel Tikaram said households with government payments as their main source of income saw the largest rise.
Mr Tikaram said health, housing, food and non-alcoholic beverages were the main contributors to higher living costs across all household types.
He said the rise in health costs came after the cyclical reduction in the proportion of households qualifying for subsidies under the Medicare Safety Net and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
“Out-of-pocket electricity costs (also) rose as most households in Brisbane had used up the $1000 Queensland State Government electricity rebate.
“Some households in the remaining states and territories also saw higher electricity bills this quarter due to the timing of the 2024-25 Commonwealth Energy Bill Relief Fund rebate payments.”
Mr Tikaram said fruit and vegetables, like avocadoes, mangoes, asparagus, tomatoes, and lettuce, saw seasonal price rises following reduced supply.
