Cost of Living Crisis in Australia

Mohammed Muneer (s4029181)

Introduction

  • The cost-of-living crisis is affecting households across Australia.

  • Rising prices in essential categories such as housing, food, and rent.

  • This dashboard visualises trends in Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from ABS.

Data Sources & Methodology

  • Data Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

  • Dataset: Consumer Price Index, Australia

  • Data cleaned and visualised in R using Plotly.

  • Visualisation timeframe: Trends shown from 1980 to present.

Overall CPI Trend - Australia

  • Australia’s overall CPI trend shows a steady increase over time, with sharper rises observed post-2020 due to global inflation pressures.

CPI Trend - Sydney

  • Sydney’s CPI trend highlights a rapid cost increase since 2020, largely driven by housing and services inflation.

CPI Trend - Melbourne

  • Melbourne’s CPI trend shows similar post-pandemic increases, with notable upward movements from late 2021 onwards.

CPI Trend - Brisbane

  • Brisbane’s CPI trend indicates steady cost increases, aligning with national inflation trends.

Insights & Discussion

  • Housing and food costs are rising fastest, straining household budgets.

  • Large increases observed post-pandemic (2020 onwards).

  • Rising costs are a significant burden for low-income households.

  • Policy makers should prioritise targeted support for vulnerable groups and address supply-side pressures driving inflation.

Conclusion

  • Cost-of-living crisis is evident in CPI trends.

  • Policy actions needed to address housing affordability and essential goods.

  • Continued monitoring is required, alongside targeted government interventions.

  • Future economic resilience depends on proactive intervention and sustained investment in essential sectors.

References