Cost of Living Increases in Australia

Based on the CPI figures issued by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)
http://www.rba.gov.au/Statistics/Bulletin/G02hist.xls
the following average annual cost increases can be shown, from June 2000 to June 2009:

• 4.19% Food
• 4.59% Alcohol and Tobacco
• 0.63% Clothing and Footwear
• 4.54% Housing
• 5.27% Education

Average Wage Increases

In May 2000, the average Male Full Time Adult wage, per statistics from www.abs.gov.au, was $882.80 per week.
This works out at an annual rate of $45,905.60, or $32,875.61 after tax at normal 1999/2000 tax rates.

In May 2009, the average Male Full Time Adult wage, per statistics from www.abs.gov.au,was $1,346.90 per week.
This works out at an annual rate of $70,038.80, or $53,976.58 after tax at normal 2008/2009 tax rates.

Although the Gross income only shows an average rise of 4.81% per year, the Net Income, due to lower tax rates, shows an average rise of 5.66% every year.