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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1988
GRAPHS 1 AND 2 DEPICT, RESPECTIVELY, THE MOVEMENTS OF THE VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES FROM SEPTEMBER 1986 ΤΟ MARCH 1988 AND THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED INDEXES AND TRENDS FROM SEPTEMBER 1986 TO FEBRUARY 1988.
AS SHOWN IN GRAPH 1, THE VALUE INDEX OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES USUALLY RISES SUBSTANTIALLY IN DECEMBER DUE ΤΟ CHRISTMAS AND IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY DUE TO THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, BUT DROP'S SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE MONTH FOLLOWING THAT IN WHICH THE LUNAR NEW
YEAR
FALLS.
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED SALES VALUE INDEX AND TREND HAVE GENERALLY FOLLOWED A SMOOTHER UPWARD COURSE OVER THE YEARS.
THE VOLUME INDEX OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES, AS DEPICTED IN GRAPH 2, SHOWS A PATTERN OF MOVEMENTS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE VALUE INDEX.
HOWEVER, THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED SALES VOLUME INDEX AND TREND RISE MORE SLOWLY THAN THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED INDEX AND TREND FOR SALES VALUE, MAINLY DUE TO THE EFFECT OF PRICE INCREASES.
THE REPORT CONTAINING THE ANALYSIS OF THE MARCH 1988 SURVEY RESULTS IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION SALES CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, AT $1 PER COPY.
AND
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 5-8234941.
/TABLE 1