Index of Commodity Prices June 2018

Release date:

Preliminary estimates for June indicate that the index decreased by 0.2 per cent (on a monthly average basis) in SDR terms, after decreasing by 0.5 per cent in May (revised). The rural and base metals subindices increased in the month, while the non‑rural index decreased. In Australian dollar terms, the index decreased by 0.6 per cent in June.

Over the past year, the index has increased by 6.6 per cent in SDR terms, led by higher thermal coal, LNG and oil prices. The index has increased by 9.9 per cent in Australian dollar terms.

Consistent with previous releases, preliminary estimates for iron ore, coking coal, thermal coal and LNG export prices are being used for the most recent months, based on market information. Using spot prices for the bulk commodities, the index increased by 2.7 per cent in June in SDR terms, to be 16 per cent higher over the past year.

For further details regarding the construction of the index, please refer to ‘Changes to the RBA Index of Commodity Prices: 2013’ in the March 2013 issue of the Bulletin and ‘Weights for the Index of Commodity Prices’ (April 2018).