Average Retail Prices of Selected Items, Eight Capital Cities
(cat. no. 6403.0.55.001)
For some years the above monthly statistical analysis has provided a comparison of a few products for sale in the main Australian capital cites.
As from the June Quarter 2011, this publication will cease, due it it neither measuring price change over time nor price levels between cities in a robust manner.
Source: abs.gov.au
I often look at this report, but have been puzzled by the prices quoted, such as these in May 2011
Milk, 2 litre whole milk
$3.11 Sydney
$3.11 Melbourne
$2.81 Brisbane
$2.77 Adelaide
$2.83 Perth
$3.33 Hobart
$3.78 Darwin
$2.94 Canberra
I am not sure what everyone else pays for milk, but I pay $2 for 2 litres.
In September 2010 the prices were:
Milk, 2 litre whole milk
$3.69 Sydney
$3.64 Melbourne
$3.20 Brisbane
$3.59 Adelaide
$3.21 Perth
$3.66 Hobart
$4.14 Darwin
$3.89 Canberra
My view is that the figures in these reports gave a good indication of periodic changes, rather than actual prices, and that they were valuable for that reason.