Import prices
6.3
Import prices, as measured by the unit value index of
imports, were on average 10% higher in the first half of 1982
than in the first half of 1981. There was no increase during the six months ending May, compared with an increase of
of 7% during the previous six months. This trend applies to prices for all the five major end-use categories of imports. To a
certain extent, this reflects the effects of the gradual
strengthening of the import-weighted exchange rate index for
the Hong Kong dollar. The softening of world commodity prices
has also contributed
A comparison of the rates of
increase in unit value indexes of the five major end-use categories of imports between the two six-month periods, May
1981 to November 1981 and November 1981 to May 1982, is given
below:
(2).
/ Prices
(2) Some examples of movements in world commodity prices are given below:
Indexes (1975=100)
All commodities
Food Cotton Petroleum
Sugar
1981 Nov
134.3
102.7
128.6
317.2
80.5
Dec
132.5
102.0
121.3
317.2
80.7
1982 Jan
133.1
102.4
128.6
317.2
79.9
Feb
132.9
100.4
125.5
317.2
78.2
Mar
127.5
96.3
130.2
317.2
76.5
Source:
International Financial Statistics, Volume XXXV, Number 5,
May 1982.
49