Import prices
6.3
According to the import unit value indexes available up to May, import prices increased by an estimated 6% in the first half of 1983, compared with the first half of 1982. Largely reflecting the depreciation of the Hong Kong dollar in
the fourth
fourth quarter of 1982 and throughout the first half of
this year,
year, the rate of increase in import prices accelerated
from 38 during the six months ending November 1982 to 6%
during the six months ending May 1983. However, the import
prices of the five major end-use categories of imports showed different movements. The import unit value indexes for the
various end-use categories are shown in the following table:
Unit value indexes of imports by end-use categories (1981-100)
Consumer
Foodstuffs_goods
Raw materials and semi- Fuels manufactures
Capital All
goods imports
1982 Nov
112
106
106
106
116
108
Dec
113
105
107
105
114
107
1983 Jan
112
108
105
107
117
109
Feb
113
110
106
110
120
111
Mar
112
112
104
109
121
112
Apr
114
115
98
110
122
113
May
116
116
99
112
124
114
6.4
A comparison of the rates of increase in import prices of the five major end-use categories of imports between the two six-month periods, May 1982 to November 1982 November 1982 to May 1983, is given below:
and
57
/Rates
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