XN000022-1973-11-20 — Page 4

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Tuesday, November 20, 1973

OCTOBER G.C.P.1. SHOWS FOUR-POINT DECREASE

27 Per Cent Drop In Average Retail Price Of Fresh Vegetables

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The General Consumer Price Index for October 1973 was 177

points (or 2.2 per cent) lower than that for the previous month. This

was due mainly to a drop of 10 points in the index for foodstuffs.

On the other hand, the index for durable goods advanced by

five points, and that for services by four points.

Increases of one point each were also recorded in the index for

fuel and light and the index for clothing and footwear. Movements in

the indexes for other sections of commodity were insignificant.

Compared with September, a substantial drop of 27 per cent

was recorded in the average retail price of fresh vegetables as a result

of considerable improvement in local supplies as well as importa.

Decreases were also recorded in the average retail prices of

beef and poultry. However, there were increases in the average retail

prices of rice, salt water fish and fresh water fish.

As to non-food items, the index for "Education, including the

purchase of text books" also rose as a result of an increase in private

school fees and in prices of text books, based on a regular annual survey

conducted recently.

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