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Friday, July 20, 1973
COST OF LIVING RISES IN JUNE
points
The General Consumer Price Index at the end of June stood at 164
a rise of seven points over the previous month,
The rise was due mainly to an increase of 12 points in the index
for foodstuffs.
The index for durable goods rose by five points.
Increases of three points each were also recorded in the indexes for
miscellaneous goods and services, while the index for fuel and light and
the index for clothing and footwear increased by one point each.
Movements in the indexes for other sections of commodity were
insignificant.
Compared with the previous month there were increases in the
average retail prices of rice, salt and fresh water fish, other fish, pork,
poultry, fresh vegetables and fresh fruit.
A spokesman for the Census and Statistics Department said that the
rather rapid increase in the retail price of rice in the early part of June
was caused by consumers stocking up, although there was in fact no shortage.
The retail prices of vegetables and fish also increased sharply at
the same time, mainly as a result of adverse weather conditions and the effects
of the Dragon Boat Festival.
Household
The increase in the index for durable goods was generally brought
about by higher prices for glassware, crockery and earthenware.
goods also rose and this resulted in an increase in the index for miscellaneous
goods. The index for services went up because of higher charges for domestic
service.
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