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FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1975
THE PLATFORM FOR THE QUARTER BEGINNING JANUARY THIS YEAR WAS CALCULATED ON THE FOLLOWING BASIS.
MCPI
SEPTEMBER 1974
194
OCTOBER 1974
203
NOVEMBER 1974
205
QUARTERLY AVERAGE
200.7
THIS PLACED THE QUARTERLY AVERAGE OF THE INDEX JUST INSIDE THE HIGHEST PLATFORM 200 - 204 AND PROVIDED A PAYMENT OF $60 A MONTH FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PLATFORM FOR THE QUARTER BEGINNING ON APRIL 1 WAS CALCULATED THUS:
DECEMBER 1974
JANUARY 1975
FEBRUARY 1975
QUARTERLY AVERAGE
MCPI
194
190
195
193
AS A RESULT OF THE FALL IN PRICES, THE AMOUNT OF THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES $30 A MONTH AS IT IS BASED ON THE PLATFORM 190 - 194.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN MEMORY THAT THE ALLOWANCE PAYABLE HAD ACTUALLY DECLINED.
THE FACT THAT THE COST OF LIVING HAD DROPPED WAS A WELCOME SIGN, BUT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO SAY WHAT THE TREND WAS LIKELY TO BE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE. WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY BUFFER AGAINST RISES IN THE COST OF LIVING.
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