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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY FIVE POINTS IN CPE (A) AND BY SIX POINTS IN CPI (B). THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, LIVE POULTRY, PORK, SALT-WATER FISH AND FRESH-WATER FISH INCREASED AS A RESULT OF STRONG DEMAND AROUND THE LUNAR NEW -YEAR HOLIDAYS. THE AVERAGE CHARGES FOR MEALS BOUGHT IN RESTAURANTS
ALSO WENT UP. THE EFFECT OF THE MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS INSIGNIFICANT.
OWING TO INCREASED DUTIES, RETAIL PRICES OF CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOLIC DRINKS WERE RAISED IN THE LATTER PART OF THE MONTH. CONSEQUENTLY, THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) INCREASED BY 10 POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY EIGHT POINTS IN CP (B).
THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY THREE POINTS IN CPI (B) BECAUSE OF LOWER PRICES FOR OUTERCLOTHING.
THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY THREE POINTS IN CPI (B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR MEDICINES, JEWELLERY AND FRESH FLOWERS.
THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY ONE POINT IN CPI (B) OWING TO HIGHER PRICES OF GASOLINE, HIGHER FEES FOR DRIVING AND VEHICLE LICENCES, AND HIGHER CHARGES FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES.
THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY FOUR POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY FIVE POINTS IN CPI (B) DUE TO HIGHER CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND HIGHER CHARGES FOR PACKAGE TOURS AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN THE OTHER SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT+ FOR FEBRUARY 1983. BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE VERSIONS OF THIS REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT $3 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES, PLEASE CONTACT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT TELEPHONE NO. 3-7216512.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, FIGURES PRESENTED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REFER TO CPI SERIES NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED,
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