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THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1977
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR MAY DROP
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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) AND CONSUMER PRICE INDEX E FOR MAY WERE 115 AND 116 - A DROP OF 2 POINTS AND 1 POINT RESPECTIVELY.
INDEX (A) IS BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN „400-11,499 A MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY, 1973/74 AND INDEX (2) IS DERIVED FROM THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1,500-$2,999 A MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY, 1973/74.
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS 3 POINTS LOWER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH IN BOTH INDEXES (A) AND (B). REDUCTIONS IN AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH WATER FISH, PORK AND FRESH VEGETABLES MORE THAN OFFSET RISES FOR MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME AND FOR SALT WATER FISH.
INCREASES OF 1 POINT EACH WERE RECORDED IN THE INDEXES FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO, AND CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR IN BOTH INDEXES (A) AND (E) BECAUSE OF HIGHER PRICES FOR CHINESE WINES, IMPORTED CIGARETTES AND SOME OUTERCLOTHING ITEMS. THE INDEX FOR SERVICES IN INDEX (D) WENT UP BY A POINT FOLLOWING HIGHER CHARGES FOR CINEMA ENTERTAINMENT, DOMESTIC HELP AND HAIRDRESSING.
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
SURVEY OF OPTICIANS AND OPTOMETRISTS
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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS URGED THOSE WHO ARE EITHER ENGAGED OR EMPLOYED IN OPTOMETRY OR OPTICAL FIRMS AND HAD NOT YET RETURNED COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES SENT TO THEM LAST YEAR TO DO SO NOW.
THEY SHOULD SEND THEM TO THE SECRETARY (BOARDS) AT BONAVENTURE HOUSE, 91, LEIGHTON ROAD, THIRD FLOOR, NOT LATER THAN AUGUST 1.
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A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THE QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT OUT IN 1976 TO ALL OPTOMETRISTS AND OPTICAL FIRMS TO ASSESS EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS, LINGUISTIC ABILITY, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE OF THOSE EMPLOYED IN THIS FIELD.
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