The prices and wages section compares the difference between the rate of inflation and the average household income, and how this affects the cost of living in the Northern Territory (NT). Analysis is provided on Darwin's consumer price index (CPI), the NT’s wage price index (WPI) and average weekly earnings (AWE). CPI reports on the changes in price of categories such as housing, food and non-alcoholic beverages, recreation and culture, alcohol and tobacco, transportation, furnishings, household equipment and services, financial and insurance services, health, communication, clothing and footwear, and education. WPI measures changes in the price that employers pay for labour, arising from market factors by both the private and public sectors of employment. AWE measures the level of average earnings in the NT.
Key facts | Consumer price index | Wage price index | Median total weekly personal income | Average weekly earnings | Explanatory notes
Prices and wages statistics are based on data reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). For the latest available data and analysis, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Consumer price index, Wage price index and Average weekly full-time earnings economic brief. For further analysis on house prices and fuel prices, please go to the relevant webpages.
Key facts
Consumer price index
Over the five years to December 2019, the Darwin CPI grew modestly averaging 0.5% per year, below the national average growth of 1.7%. More recently, over the three years to June 2024, the Darwin CPI has grown at an average rate of 5.3% per year, slightly above the national average growth of 5.2%.
In the September quarter 2024:
- Darwin CPI increased by 0.1%, the fourth lowest result of the capital cities.
- The quarterly increase was driven by food and non-alcoholic beverages, partially offset by transportation and recreation and culture.
- Darwin CPI increased by 2.2% in over the year (Chart 1), the third lowest result of the capital cities, which ranged from an increase of 0.7% in Hobart to 3.8% in Perth.
- The largest price increases in Darwin over the year were education (up by 7.8%), alcohol and tobacco (up by 6.7%), and health (up by 6.2%).
Wage price index
In the September quarter 2024:
- NT WPI grew by 3.0% over the year to September quarter 2024, with private sector wage growth (up by 3.2%) stronger than the public sector (up by 2.9%) (Chart 2)
- This was the weakest growth of the jurisdictions, which otherwise ranged from 3.2% in Victoria and South Australia to 4.0% in Tasmania.
- Nationally, the WPI grew by 3.5% over the same period, with private sector wage growth (up by 3.5%) below the public sector (up by 3.7%).
Based on the 2016 Census data:
- the median total weekly personal income of women who are working full time in the NT is less than the median for males in the same industry, across most industries
- the income gap of full-time working women in the NT is wider than the national figures
- NT has a more equal workforce gender distribution across most industries compared to Australia (Chart 3).
Average weekly earnings
Through the year to May 2024:
- NT average weekly full-time earnings (AWFTE) increased by 3.4% to $1,957, the third lowest result of all jurisdictions over the year, which ranged from 2.9% in Western Australia to 5.9% in Queensland.
- NT recorded the fifth highest level of AWFTE of the jurisdictions, which ranged from $1,771 in Tasmania to $2,186 in Western Australia
- the AWFTE for males in the NT increased by 3.1% to $2,131 and the AWFTE for females increased by 5.2% to $1,777 (Chart 4)
- nationally, the AWFTE increased by 4.5%, with male AWFTE increasing by 3.8% and female AWFTE increasing by 5.6%.
Explanatory notes
- Prices and wages statistics are based on data reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
- Inflation is a key economic indicator that measures the change in the general level of consumer prices over a given period of time. ABS measures inflation in the economy through changes in CPI.
- CPI measures the price of a representative basket of goods and services in each Australian capital city. Each group in CPI is given a weighting depending on its relative importance to household expenditure, which is outlined in Table 1.
- The ABS introduced the 17th series of weighting pattern of the CPI series due to incorporating the results from the Household Expenditure Survey 2015-16. The introduction of the new CPI series has resulted in a break in the time series regarding components percentage point contributions to the CPI growth rates.
- The ABS WPI measures the influence of market factors on the price employers pay for a standard unit of labour. To establish a standard unit of labour for the index, the ABS holds the quantity and quality of labour services constant by excluding changes in the composition of the labour force, hours worked and changes in characteristics of employees (such as productivity) from the index. The lump sum payments delivered to eligible employees under the Northern Territory Public Service 2021-2025 Enterprise Agreement were not captured in the ABS’ methodology for the headline WPI.
- The ABS average weekly earnings (AWE) survey is designed to measure the level of average earnings in Australia at a point in time. Movements in average weekly earnings can be affected not only by changes in the level of earnings of employees but also changes in the overall composition of the labour force. This relates to variations in the occupational distribution within and across industries, distribution of employment between industries and proportion of male and female employees.
- AWE are not comparable with those for the WPI. They have different purposes and concepts and use different sample selection and estimation methodology. The WPI is a price index to measure changes over time in the price of wages and salaries and it is unaffected by changes in the quality and quantity of labour services. AWE measures the level of average earnings and, in addition to changes in the price of labour, is affected by changes in hours worked and by compositional changes. For further detail on the methodology, concepts and sources please go to the ABS website.