WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
26
DURING FEBRUARY, FOOD PRICES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND LIVE POULTRY, AND HAIRDRESSING CHARGES WERE HIGHER, REFLECTING A STRONG CONSUMER DEMAND DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS AND AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FRESH VEGETABLES BECAUSE OF THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. RETAIL PRICES OF CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ALSO WENT UP IN THE LATTER PART OF THE MONTH AS A RESULT OF INCREASED DUTIES.
THE CP (A) AND CPI (B) ARE BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERNS OF 50 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WERE DERIVED FROM THE 1979/80 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY. THE CPI (A) REFERRED TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1 000 AND $3 499 A MONTH AND THE CPI (B) TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $3 500 AND $6 499 A MONTH AT THAT TIME.
THE INDEXES FOR FEBRUARY 1983 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITY/ SERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES ARE GIVEN BELOW, TOGETHER WITH THOSE FOR JANUARY 1983 AND FEBRUARY 1982.
(OCTOBER 1979 TO SEPTEMBER 1980 AVERAGE =
100)
CPI (A)
CPI (B)
SECTION
FEB 82
JAN 83 FEB 83
FEB 82
JAN 83
FEB 83
FOODSTUFFS
131
137
142
131
137
143
HOUSING
121
133
133
121
132
132
FUEL AND
136
145
145
137
146
146
LIGHT
ALCOHOL FC
123
130
140
122
129
137
DRINKS
AND
TOBACCO
(FOR HOME
CONSUMPTION)
CLOTHING AND
122
135
133
122
136
133
FOOTWEAR
DURABLE GOODS
108
107
108
110
110
110
MISCELLANEOUS
120
128
130
117
127
130
GOODS
TRANSPORT AND
137
145
147
134
147
148
VEHICLES
SERVICES
129
144
148
129
142
147
ALL ITEMS
127
135
138
126
135
138
/THE INDEX