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FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1981
THE INDEX FOR THE FOODSTUFFS COMPONENT IN BOTH NEW C.P.I.(A) AND NEW C.P.I.(B) INCREASED BY THREE POINTS, THE ADVERSE WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEVERE TROPICAL STORM LYNN AND THE TORRENTIAL RAIN IN THE LATTER PART OF THE MONTH CAUSED THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND SALT-WATER FISH TO INCREASE.
RISES WERE ALSO RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH FRUITS, RICE, FRESH-WATER FISH AND MEALS BOUGHT IN RESTAURANTS, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF LIVE POULTRY DECREASED. THE EFFECTS OF MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR THE FOODSTUFFS COMPONENT WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
THE INDEX FOR THE HOUSING COMPONENT IN NEW C.P.I.(A) INCREASED BY FOUR POINTS AND THAT IN NEW C.P.I.(B) BY THREE POINTS AS HIGHER RENT WAS RECORDED IN PRIVATE DWELLINGS.
THE INDEX FOR THE FUEL AND LIGHT COMPONENT IN NEW C.P.I.(A) INCREASED BY ONE POINT BECAUSE OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY, WHILE THAT IN NEW C.P.I.(A) REMAINED UNCHANGED DUE TO ROUNDING.
THE ONE-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR THE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) COMPONENT IN BOTH NEW C.P.I.(A) AND NEW C.P.I. (B) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER PRICES FOR CHINESE WINES.
THE INDEX FOR THE MISCELLANEOUS GOODS COMPONENT IN NEW C.P.I.(B) DECREASED BY ONE POINT AS A RESULT OF LOWER PRICES FOR GENUINE JEWELLERY.
FOLLOWING INCREASES IN FERRY FARES, PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES, PARKING METER CHARGES, CAR INSURANCE PRÉMIUM AND CROSS-HARBOUR VEHICULAR FERRY FARES, THE INDEX FOR THE TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES COMPONENT IN BOTH NEW C.P.1.(A) AND NEW C.P.1.(B) INCREASED BY ONE POINT.
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT FOR JULY 1981, WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE ON SALE AT $2 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE.
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