WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1977
SEPTEMBER COST OF LIVING UNCHANGED
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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES (A) AND (B) FOR LAST MONTH (SEPTEMBER) WERE BOTH 119, EACH BEING THE SAME AS IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS 1 POINT LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS MONTH IN C.P.I. (A) AND WAS UNCHANGED IN C.P.1. (B) WHEN ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST WHOLE POINT. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH VEGETABLES DECLINED ALTHOUGH LOCAL SUPPLY WAS AFFECTED BY THE WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE EARLY PART OF THE MONTH.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HIGHER PRICES DUE TO HEAVY DEMAND AROUND THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL WERE RECORDED FOR FRESH FRUITS. THE AVERAGE PRICE OF MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME ALSO WENT UP AS SOME RESTAURANTS AND EATING-PLACES RAISED THEIR PRICES. MOVEMENTS IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF THE OTHER FOOD ITEMS WERE INS IGN IF ICANT.
THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO ROSE BY 4 POINTS IN C.P.I. (A) AND BY 3 POINTS IN C.P.I. (B) OWING TO HIGHER PRICES FOR CIGARETTES.
THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ADVANCED BY 1 POINT IN BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND C.P.I. (B) AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE RENT OF SOME PRIVATE DWELLINGS.
HIGHER CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING CAUSED THE INDEX FOR SERVICES TO RISE BY 1 POINT IN C.P.I. (B).
A FALL OF 1 POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR IN C.P.I. (B) DUE TO LOWER PRICES FOR SOME ITEMS OF WOMEN'S OUTERCLOTHING.
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
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THE C.P.I. (A) IS BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $400 $1,499 A MONTH AND THE C.P.I. (B) BETWEEN $1,500 - $2,999 A MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY, 1973/74.