WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1980
5
CONSUMER PRICE INDICES FOR FEBRUARY
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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) AND THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR FEBRUARY 1980 WERE 158 AND 157 RESPECTIVELY. COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, CPI (A) INCREASED BY EIGHT POINTS AND CPI (B) BY SEVEN POINTS.
THE CPI (A) IS BASED ON WEIGHTS DERIVED FROM HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $400 AND $1 499 A MONTH AND THE CPI (B) FROM THOSE SPENDING $1 500 AND $2 999 A MONTH, AS DETERMINED AT THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY IN 1973/74.
THE CHANGES FOR FEBRUARY 1980 IN RESPECT OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE TWO INDICES, COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH AND WITH THE CORRESPONDING MONTH IN 1979, ARE AS FOLLOWS &
COMPONENT
C.P.I.(A)
C.P.I.(B)
FEB 80 JAN 80 FEB 79 FEB 80 JAN 80 FEB 79
FOODSTUFFS
152
142
125
154
145
127
HOUSING
148
148
137
148
148
136
FUEL AND LIGHT
259
239
141
244
226
140
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND
TOBACCO
181
168
155
174
163
150
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR
118
117
106
116
115
105
DURABLE GOODS
131
131
121
126
127
118
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS
165
164
139
164
162
137
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES
191
167
145
191
173
151
SERVICES
165
158
142
168
162
144
ALL ITEMS
158 150
131 157
150
131
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY 10 POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY NINE POINTS IN CPI (B). PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT WERE THE INCREASES IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES. FRESH-WATER FISH, LIVE POULTRY, PORK, SALT-WATER FISH AND FRESH FRUITS. THE COST OF MEALS BOUGHT IN RESTAURANTS ALSO WENT UP. MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY BY 20 POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY 18 POINTS IN CPI (B), REFLECTING THE IMPACT OF THE INCREASES IN PRICES OF KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS SINCE JANUARY AS WELL AS HIGHER CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY.
/HIGHER PRICES