SYDNEY (AFX) - Consumer price index rose 0.3 pct in the three months to September from the quarter earlier, and was up 2.5 pct year-on-year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. In the second quarter to June, CPI rose 0.8 pct over the first quarter, and up 6.0 pct year-on-year. The median of analysts forecasts for the September quarter was for a rise of 0.5 pct on the quarter and 2.7 pct year-on-year. Forecasts ranged from 0.2-0.7 pct on the quarter and 2.4-2.9 pct year-on-year. The ABS said that excluding housing, the CPI for the September quarter was flat from the June period and was up 2.6 pct year on year. "This result is due to ongoing price movements over the last 12 months and is no longer affected by the direct or first round effects of the new tax system, in particular, the introduction of the goods and services tax," the ABS said.