first quarter. Taking the new Consumer Price Index (A) as an example, the year-on-year rate of increase was lower than in
the fourth quarter of 1981. The increase in the new Consumer Price Index (A) during the first quarter of this year by 3.3%, reflecting in part the seasonal influences caused by the Lunar
New Year, was slightly lower than the corresponding increase
during the first quarter of 1981 of 5%. The new Consumer
Price Index (B) and the Hang Seng Consumer Price Index showed
movements similar to the new Consumer Price Index (A). The
easing of consumer price inflation was fairly marked in terms of the year-on-year rates of increase, as is indicated in the following table:
Consumer price indexes
(October 1979 to September 1980 average = 100)
Year-on-
New
Year-on- year rate
of
Year-on-
New
year rate
of
Hang
Seng
CPI (A)
increase
CPI (B)
increase
CPI
year rate
of increase
(8)
(8)
(8)
1981 Oct
124
17.0
123
16.0
122
14.0
Nov
124
15.9
123
15.0
122
13.0
Dec 123
13.9
123
13.9
122
13.0
1982 Jan
125
13.6
125
13.6
124
13.8
Feb 127
13.4
126
12.5
125
12.6
Mar
127
12.4
126
11.5
126
11.5
6.7
Among all the
components of goods and
services
distinguished in the various consumer price indexes, the most
rapid rates of increase during the first quarter of 1982 were
for the foodstuffs, fuel and light,
and light, and alcoholic drinks and
40
/ tobacco