XN000022-1974-05-21 — Page 5

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LUSSDAY, MAY 21, 1974

APRIL G.C.P.I. DROPS BY TUO POINTS

THE GENERAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR APRIL 1974 DAS 185, TWO POINTS OR 1.1 PER CENT LOVER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH. THIS WAS DUE HAINLY TO A DECREASE OF NINE POINTS IN THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ADVANCED BY NINE POINTS. INCREASES OF TWO POIUTS EACH VEIE PECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR, THE INDEX FOR DURAELE GOODS AND THE INDEX FOR SERVICES.

THE INDEX FOR NISCELLANEOUS GOODS ALSO ROSE BY ONE POINT. MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES FOR OTHER SECTIONS OF COrt1ODITY WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

COMPARED WITH MARCH, THERE WERE DECREASES IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SALT WATER FISH, PORK, FRESH VEGETABLES AND EGGS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF RICE AND FRESH FRUITS ADVANCED.

AS TO NON-FOOD ITEMS, THE INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR HOUSING WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE UPWARD REVISION 1 THE RENTS OF SOME HOUSING SOCIETY ESTATES AND THE ADJUSTMENT MADE TO THE INDEX FOR RENTS OF PRIVATE POST-WAR CUILT DWELLINGS.

FOLLOWING HIGHER PRICES FOR CLOTHING MATERIALS AND CHARGES FOR TAILORING, THE INDEX FUR CLOTHING AND FOOTUZAR WAS RAISED.

CIE TO SET ESTATES

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NOTE' TO EDITORS:

THE COMMANDER, BRITISH FORCES, LT-GEN. SIR EDVIN BRAMALL, AKO LADY BRAHALL, WILL SPEND THURSDAY (MAY 23) AFTERNOON TOURING PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN KOWLOON.

THE COUPLE, WHO WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, HR. 1.0. LIGHTBODY, AND THE SECRETARY, HOUSING AUTHORITY, BR. H.H.T. BARMA, WILL ALSO SEE A TRANSIT CAUP, A SQUATTER AREA AND A TRADITIONAL LICENSED AREA.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NEVS MEDIA ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE VISIT. TRANSPORT WILL BE PROVIDED. PROSS REPRESENTATIVES ARE REQUESTED TO ARRIVE AT THE FORMER KOWLOON SUB-POOL NOT LATER THAN 2 P.. ON THURSDAY, MAY 23.

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