XN000022-1976-02-23 — Page 3

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1976

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR JANUARY

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THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) FOR JANUARY 1976 WAS 108, THE SAME AS THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY ONE POINT. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SALT WATER FISH, FRESH WATER FISH, PORK AND LIVE POULTRY ADVANCED WHILE THOSE OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME DECLINED.

AN INCREASE OF THREE POINTS WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR SERVICES, DUE MAINLY TO INCREASED CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AND "HIGHER POSTAL RATES FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF MAIL.

THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS ALSO ADVANCED BY ONE POINT AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR FURNITURE, WATCHES, CAMERAS AND OPTICAL GOODS.

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

THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR JANUARY 1976 WAS 109, ONE POINT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

A RISE OF ONE POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SALT WATER FISH, FRESH WATER FISH AND LIVE POULTRY ADVANCED WHILE THAT OF FRESH VEGETABLES DECLINED.

AN INCREASE OF TWO POINTS WAS ALSO RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR SERVICES. DUE MAINLY TO INCREASED CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AND HIGHER POSTAL RATES FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF MAIL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR FELL BY ONE POINT.

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

THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) IS BASED ON WEIGHTS DERIVED FROM THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $400 AND $1,499 A MONTH. INDEX (B) COVERS HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1,500 AND $2,999 A MONTH.

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