The Australian Bureau of Statistics Regularly Publishes the Average Retail

question 24

Essay

The Australian Bureau of Statistics regularly publishes the average retail prices of selected items for each Australian capital city. The following table presents the prices of oranges, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots and onions in Melbourne during the June quarter in 2008 and 2010. $$\begin{array}{l}\text { Fruit and vegetable prices } ( \$ / \mathrm { kg } )\\\begin{array} { | l | c | c | } \hline \text { Item } & \text { June 2008 } & \text { June 2010 } \\\hline \text { Oranges } & 2.98 & 2.95 \\\hline \text { Bananas } & 2.32 & 2.37 \\\hline \text { Potatoes } & 2.69 & 2.44 \\\hline \text { Tomatoes } & 3.72 & 4.59 \\\hline \text { Carrots } & 2.20 & 1.95 \\\hline \text { Onions } & 2.57 & 2.35 \\\hline\end{array}\end{array}$$ Construct the average of relative price indexes for the fruit and vegetable group for June 2010 (with base June 2008 = 100).

Recognize and explain the application of the prisoner's dilemma in real-life situations.

Understand the economic rationale behind and the controversies surrounding resale price maintenance.

Identify business practices that potentially violate antitrust laws, including predatory pricing, tying, and other practices.

Comprehend the impact of market structures, particularly oligopoly, on competition and pricing strategies.

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Definitions:

Income Statement

A financial statement that shows a company's revenues and expenses, culminating in a net profit or loss over a specific period.

Other than Temporary

A designation for impairments or losses that are expected to be permanent or long-lasting rather than temporary fluctuations.

Available-for-sale

A classification for financial assets implying that they can be sold in the future, but are not held primarily for trading purposes.

Investment Portfolio

A collection of investments held by an individual or institution which may include stocks, bonds, real estate, and other financial assets.