Glen McCrea, ASFA deputy chief executive, said the March quarter saw a return to more normal conditions.
“In the previous few quarters there were suspensions or delays in certain price increases but now price increases are returning to a more standard pattern," McCrea said.
"There was around a 0.5% increase in the price of meals out and takeaway foods, in part due to demand pressures as more consumers were able to dine away from home.”
While health insurance premiums remained unchanged for much of the year, these increased from 1 October, 2020, by around 3% for many retirees.
There were now 2.2 million Australians aged over 65 with private health insurance, up from 2 million three years earlier.