FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1979
5
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
*****
THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) AND CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR LAST MONTH (FEBRUARY) WERE BOTH 131. COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND C.P. I. (B) ADVANCED BY TWO POINTS.
THE C.P.I. (A) IS BASED ON WEIGHTS DERIVED FROM THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $400 - $1,499 A MONTH AND THE C.P.I. (B), BETWEEN $1,500 - $2,999 À MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY, 1973-74.
THE SECTION INDEXES FOR FEBRUARY 1979, COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH AND THE CORRESPONDING MONTH IN 1978, ARE GIVEN BELOW:-
C.P.I. (A)
C.P.I. (B)
SECTION FEB. 79 JAN. 79 FEB. 78
FEB. 79 JAN. 79 FEB. 78
FOODSTUFFS 125
123
120
127
125
120
HOUSING
137
137
127
136
136
126
FUEL AND
LIGHT
141
135
135
140
134
134
ALCOHOL IC
DRINKS AND
TOBACCO
155
150
137
150
145
133
CLOTHING
AND
FOOTWEAR
106
105
102
105
104
101
DURABLE
GOODS
121
120
112
118
118
109
MISCELLANEOUS
GOODS
139
138
128
137
135
125
TRANSPORT
AND
VEHICLES 145
136
121
151
139
124
SERVICES
142
143
136
144
144
137
ALL ITEMS 131
129
123
131
129
123
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WENT UP BY TWO POINTS IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B). RISES WERE RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, FRESH-WATER FISH AND PORK. THE COST OF MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME ALSO WENT UP AS SOME RESTAURANTS AND EATING PLACES RAISED THE IR PRICES. ON THE OTHER HAND, A REDUCTION WAS RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH FRUITS. MOVEMENTS IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
/THE INDEX
- - - - -