Australia’s monthly CPI rose 3.0% YoY in August 2025, up from 2.8% YoY in July, with housing, electricity, and tobacco the largest contributors to the increase.

• Housing inflation accelerated to 4.5% YoY (Jul: 3.6%), driven by electricity prices surging 24.6% YoY after government rebates were used up.

• Rents rose 3.7% YoY (Jul: 3.9%), marking the slowest annual increase since November 2022.

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose 3.0% YoY, steady from July, with stronger increases in meat and seafood (+2.9%) but a sharp slowdown in fruit and vegetables (+1.1%).

• Alcohol and tobacco inflation remained high at 6.0% YoY, with tobacco up 12.6% YoY.

• Automotive fuel prices fell -1.7% YoY (Jul: -5.5%), though they rose 0.8% MoM in August.

• The CPI excluding volatile items and holiday travel rose 3.4% YoY (Jul: 3.2%), while the trimmed mean eased slightly to 2.6% YoY (Jul: 2.7%).

• Holiday travel and accommodation slowed to 1.1% YoY (Jul: 3.3%), with a -3.5% MoM decline in August reflecting weaker post-school holiday demand.