Transport Affordability Index

Transport is a significant and unavoidable expense that accounts for a significant proportion of household budgets, and it is one of the main drivers of inflation.

The Transport Affordability Index tracks movements in the total price of household transport, using economic modelling to illustrate changes to transport costs relative to Consumer Price Index movements and household incomes.

This is conceptually similar to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ “basket of goods” used to measure and track CPI over time.

The Index’s modelling is based on a “typical” or “hypothetical” two-car household in which both parents are employed and commute to work.

It models costs in each capital city and in one regional centre in each state and the Northern Territory, and it also provides typical national capital city and regional centre household costs.