Transport Costs Index (Ongoing)

Introduction

The aim has been to provide a quarterly view of the effects of price changes on the travelling public. The information is more comprehensive than data that was previously available. It shows public responses to fuel cost changes, insurance cost changes, and changes to government fees and charges.

While the development phase of this project is now complete, Statistics NZ continues to publish updated reports based on this index.

Research Provider

• The AA engaged Stats NZ to deliver this project

Project Manager

• Peter King – AA Motoring Affairs

Research Method

Stats NZ developed six household transport price indexes at the request of the New Zealand Automobile Association (AA):

1. General driving costs (North Island)
2. General driving costs (South Island)
3. Metro commuter (Auckland and Wellington)
4. Urban Public transport commuter (Auckland and Wellington)
5. Non-urban Public transport commuter (Not Auckland and Wellington)
6. Cycling
   
   

The indexes were developed with input from the AA to represent 6 different transport profiles.

Stats NZ has used data from the Household Economic Survey - expenditure (HES), Census (2013), and the Consumers Price Index (CPI) to work out the weights (proportion) and associated transport costs for each index.

A back series has been calculated, going back to the June 2008 quarter. Weights for the back series were derived from a mixture of HES and CPI data.

Results (updated quarterly):

Click graph to see live data

Research Reports

Transport Costs Report - March 2019

Household transport costs indexes - methodology

Page last updated: May 2022