XN000022-1975-10-22 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1975

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SEPTEMBER CONSUMER PRICE INDICES SHOW SLIGHT INCREASE

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FOODSTUFFS COST SLIGHTLY MORE LAST MONTH DUE TO AN INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH VEGETABLES FOLLOWING A SUBSTANTIAL DROP IN LOCAL SUPPLY, ACCORDING TO THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDICES ISSUED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

$2,999

BOTH THE 'A' AND 'B' INDICES, WHICH COVER HOUSEHOLDS WITH MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE OF $400 - $1,499 AND $1,500 - RESPECTIVELY, STOOD AT 109 - TWO POINTS HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ADVANCED BY FOUR POINTS IN THE 'A' INDEX WHILE IN THE 'B' INDEX, IT ROSE BY THREE POINTS.

IN THE 'A' INDEX, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF SALT WATER FISH DECLINED AS A RESULT OF A RISE IN ITS SUPPLY.

IN THE 'B' INDEX, THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ROSE BY ONE POINT WITH THE INCREASES IN RENTS OF PRIVATE POST-WAR-BUILT DWELLINGS. HOWEVER, A DROP OF ONE POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE LOWER PRICES OF MEN'S AND WOMEN'S OUTERCLOTHING.

MOVEMENTS IN THE INDICES FOR OTHER SECTIONS OF COMMODITY AND SERVICE WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

MEANWHILE, THE OLD GENERAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR SEPTEMBER STOOD AT 194, SIX POINTS HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.