XN000022-1975-01-23 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1975

DECEMBER CONSUMER PRICE INDICES DOWN

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FOODSTUFFS COST LESS LAST MONTH, BUT PEOPLE HAD TO PAY MORE FOR KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM, ACCORDING TO THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDICES ISSUED TODAY.

THE 'A' INDEX WHICH IS BASED ON WEIGHTS DERIVED FROM THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS 'SPENDING BETWEEN $400 AND $1,499 A MONTH IN THE 1973/74 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY DROPPED TO 106, THREE POINTS LOWER THAN THAT FOR NOVEMBER 1974.

A DROP OF FIVE POINTS WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF RICE, SALT WATER FISH, FRESH FRUITS AND FRESH VEGETABLES DECLINED AS A RESULT OF THE FAVOURABLE SUPPLY SITUATION.

THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ADVANCED BY THREE POINTS, AS A RESULT OF INCREASES IN THE RENTS OF PRIVATE POST-WAR BUILT DWELLINGS AND THE UPWARD REVISION IN THE RENTS OF HOUSING AUTHORITY GROUP A AND GROUP B ESTATES.

DUE TO HIGHER PRICES FOR KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS, THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT ROSE BY ONE POINT,

MOVEMENTS IN THE INDICES FOR OTHER SECTIONS OF COMMOD I TY AND SERVICE WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

THE 'B' INDEX FOR DECEMBER 1974 WAS 107, ONE POINT LOWER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH. THIS INDEX IS BASED ON WEIGHTS DERIVED FROM THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1,500 AND $2,999 A MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS DECLINED BY FOUR POINTS. DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF RICE, SALT WATER FISH, FRESH FRUITS AND FRESH VEGETABLES.

THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ADVANCED BY TWO POINTS, AS A RESULT OF INCREASES IN THE RENTS OF PRIVATE POST-WAR BUILT DWELLINGS AND THE UPWARD REVISION IN THE RENTS OF HOUSING AUTHORITY GROUP A AND B ESTATES.

THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT ROSE BY ONE POINT, DUE TO THE UPWARD REVISION IN THE PRICES OF KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS.

THE INCREASE OF ONE POINT IN THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES WAS MAINLY DROUGHT ABOUT BY HIGHER PRICES FOR PETROL AND OIL.

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