Export Prices

An export price index measures changes in the prices of exports of merchandise from a country and are important for changes in the prices of goods and services traded between a specific country and the rest of the world. For Australia the Export Prices measure prices of goods purchased out of country but produced in Australia.
They indicate also inflationary pressures, are important for trade contracts and can be used to set fiscal and monetary policy, while the exchange rate of the Australian Dollar can have a significant influence on them. Australia’s export prices declined by 3.0 percent quarter-on-quarter in the September quarter of 2017, compared to a 5.7 percent fall in the prior quarter while markets estimated a 6.3 percent drop. The latest reading for the Export Prices was 87.80 points, lower than the previous reading of 90.50 points.
The frequency of the measurement of the Export Prices is quarterly.  Export Prices in Australia averaged 54.35 Index Points from 1974 until 2017, reaching an all-time high of 112.20 Index Points in the fourth quarter of 2008 and a record low of 16.30 Index Points in the third quarter of 1974. This was the second consecutive quarter of declining Export Prices for Australia. In general lower Export Prices are more competitive for Australia and can have a positive impact on the balance of trade, increasing exports over imports.