MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1977

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CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MARCH

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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) FOR MARCH WAS 117, ONE POINT LOWER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS FELL BY THREE POINTS. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SALT WATER FISH, LIVE POULTRY AND FRESH VEGETABLES DECLINED WHILE THOSE FOR PORK AND MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME ADVANCED.

THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES DECREASED BY THREE POINTS AS PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR. THE REDUCTIONS OF TWO POINTS EACH IN THE INDEXES FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR AND FOR SERVICES WERE MAINLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO LOWER PRICES FOR SOME OUTERCLOTHING ITEMS AND REDUCED CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING AFTER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ROSE BY TWO POINTS AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE RENT OF SOME PRIVATE DWELLINGS. THE TWO-POINT RISE IN THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT WAS DUE TO INCREASED PRICES FOR KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS AND HIGHER ELECTRICITY CHARGES.

MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR THE OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR MARCH WAS 117, ONE POINT LOWER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS FELL BY TWO POINTS, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SALT WATER FISH, LIVE POULTRY AND FRESH VEGETABLES DECLINED WHILE THOSE FOR PORK AND MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME ADVANCED.

THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECREASED BY TWO POINTS AS A RESULT OF LOWER PRICES FOR SOME OUTERCLOTHING ITEMS. THE REDUCTIONS OF ONE POINT EACH IN THE INDEXES FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES AND FOR SERVICES WERE ATTRIBUTABLE TO REDUCED FARES FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND TO REDUCED CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING AFTER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.

ON THE OTHER HAND THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ROSE BY TWO POINTS AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE RENT OF SOME PRIVATE DWELLINGS. THE TWO-POINT RISE IN THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT WAS DUE TO INCREASED PRICES FOR KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS AND HIGHER ELECTRICITY CHARGES.

MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR THE OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

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