XN000022-1972-08-17 — Page 1

P.R.H. 7 (REVIJED)

4000001

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES

DAILY

INFORMATION BULLETIN

MARGINAL DROP IN COST OF LIVING

Thursday, August 17, 1972

The cost of living dropped slightly in Hong Kong during July. The

General Consumer Price Index stood at 138, four pointe lower than that for

the previous month.

The fall was due mainly to a decrease of seven points in the index

for food. An increase of eight points in the index for transport and vehicles,

and one point in the index for miscellaneous goods were also recorded.

Movements in the indexes for other commodities and services were

insignificant.

For the Consumer Price Index different weights are attached to the

various sections to show their relative importance. Consequently food

carries the highest weight and transport and vehicles one of the lowest, based

on the expenditure pattern of the average household.

A spokesman for the Cenaus and Statistics Department said today that

as supplies returned to normal in July, the average retail prices of fresh

vegetables, fresh water fish, salt water fish and poultry all showed a considerable

fall. Beans and peas, butter and margarine were also priced lower.

higher retail prices were recorded for other fish, fresh fruits, tea, beef,

However,

bread and oakes.

/The spokesman.