Tasmania's cost of living growth has slowed slightly, falling further behind wages growth.
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated Hobart inflation came in at 2.2 per cent for the year to September and 0.5 per cent in the September quarter, down from 2.3 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively three months earlier.
That allowed wages growth to push further ahead of inflation, meaning many working Tasmanians would be getting ahead, if only slightly.
The ABS' latest issue of its wage price index estimated Tasmanian wages increased by 2.6 per cent in the year to June.
Private sector wages increased by 3.2 per cent.
Public sector wages growth was just 1.5 per cent, constrained by a long-running pay dispute with the state government.
The dispute has been settled for now, with one-year revised deals.
Future deals will be negotiated.
The increased pays will wash into the public sector wage price index and could be reflected in the September quarter figures, which will be released on November 13.
They are also likely to boost consumption spending, particularly in Hobart, where much of the state public sector is based.
Falls in the cost of domestic holiday travel and accommodation (7 per cent) and vegetables (2.5 per cent) helped push down Hobart inflation in the September quarter.
Upward pressure came from the costs of:
- New dwelling purchases by owner-occupiers (2.3 per cent);
- international holiday travel and accommodation (6.2 per cent);
- tobacco (2.6 per cent); and
- automotive fuel (0.5 per cent).
The ABS said the rise in dwelling costs was due to a strong housing market, while Hobart was the only capital city where fuel costs rose during the quarter.
Hobart inflation is the best available measure for the state.
The wage price index measures changes in wages for the same work, rather than average wages.
