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1
MONDAY, MAY 24, 1982
MISCELLANEOUS
GOODS
108
120
121
108
117
117
TRANSPORT AND
VEHICLES
123
137
137
122
134
134
SERVICES
115
130
131
115
129
130
ALL ITEMS
114
127
127
114
126
127
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS DECREASED BY ONE POINT IN C.P.1. (A). REDUCTIONS WERE RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES ON FRESH VEGETABLES OWING TO INCREASED SUPPLY DURING THE MONTH, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH-WATER FISH INCREASED AS A RESULT OF TIGHTENED SUPPLY. RISES WERE ALSO REGISTERED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH FRUITS AND IN THE AVERAGE CHARGES FOR MEALS BOUGHT IN RESTAURANTS.
THE EFFECT OF THE MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS INSIGNIFICANT.
THE INDEX FOR HOUSING INCREASED BY THREE POINTS IN BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND C.P.I. (B) DUE TO HIGHER RENTS FOR PRIVATE DWELLINGS AND FOR SOME HOUSING AUTHORITY GROUP A AND HOUSING SOCIETY ESTATES, HIGHER CHARGES FOR MULTI-STOREY BUILDING MAINTENANCE FEES, AND HIGHER WATER CHARGES.
THE INCREASE IN WATER CHARGES BEGAN AFFECTING SOME HOUSEHOLDS DURING THE MONTH AND WILL BE EXTENDED TO ALL HOUSEHOLDS IN AUGUST 1982, OWING TO THE NATURE OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM,
THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR INCREASED BY FIVE POINTS IN C.P.I. (A) AND BY SIX POINTS IN C.P.I. (B) BECAUSE OF HIGHER PRICES FOR OUTERCLOTHING AND WOMEN'S FOOTWEAR. THESE INCREASES WERE DUE TO THE ENDING OF CLEARANCE SALES BY MANY SHOPS DURING THE MONTH.
HIGHER PRICES FOR MEDICINES AND JEWELLERY CAUSED THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS TO INCREASE BY ONE POINT IN C.P.I. (A).
THE ONE-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR SERVICES IN BOTH C.P.1. (A) AND C.P.I. (B) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT AND HOUSEHOLD SERVICES.
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT+ FOR APRIL 1982, WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE AT $3 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
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