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Tuesday, March 19, 1974
FEBRUARY G.C.¡ I. UP FOUR POINTS
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The General Consumer Price Index for February 1974 was 183,
four points higher than that for the previous month.
This was due mainly to an increase of eight points in the
index for foodstuffs.
The index for fuel and light advanced by 12 points while the
index for durable goods advanced by two points.
Rises of one point each were recorded in the index for housing,
the index for miscellaneous goods and the index for transport and vehicles.
On the other hand, the index for services dropped by three
points. 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, fresh water fish, pork, beef, poultry,
eggs and meals bought away from home. On the other hand, the average
retail prices of salt water fish and fresh vegetables dropped.
As to non-food items, the rise in the index for fuel and light
was attributable to increased charges for electricity and higher prices
for kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas. The index for services was
lowered as a result of reduced charges for hairdressing after the Chinese
New Year Festival.
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