XN000022-1976-03-23 — Page 5

TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1976

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX STABLE LAST MONTH

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

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

A FALL OF TWO POINTS WAS ALSO RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR SERVICES, DUE MAINLY TO REDUCED CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS ROSE BY ONE POINT.

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

THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR FEBRUARY WAS 109, THE SAME AS THAT FOR THE PRECEDING MONTH.

A FALL OF ONE POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF LIVE POULTRY AND FRESH VEGETABLES DECLINED WHILE THAT OF PORK ADVANCED.

THE INDEX FOR SERVICES ALSO DROPPED BY ONE POINT, DUE MAINLY TO REDUCED CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS ROSE BY ONE POINT.

MOVEMENTS IN THE INDEXES 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 IN THE 1973/74 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY. THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) COVERS HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1,500 AND $2,999 A MONTH IN THE SAME SURVEY.

D C AND I ANNOUNCES RICE IMPORT QUOTA

FOR SECOND QUARTER

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THE RICE IMPORT QUOTA FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1976 HAS BEEN FIXED AT 91,696.5 METRIC TONS, A COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT SAID TODAY.

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (TRADE) MR. PAUL WONG, EXPLAINED THAT THE NEW QUOTA - LARGER THAN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER'S QUOTA BY 11,182.5 METRIC TONS - TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE AMOUNT OF RICE STOCKS IN HONG KONG AND THE OVERSEAS SUPPLY POSITION.

HONG KONG IMPORTED A TOTAL OF 61,082 METRIC TONS OF RICE SINCE JANUARY THIS YEAR. OF THIS AMOUNT, CHINA SUPPLIED 32,431 METRIC TONS AND THAILAND 21,702 METRIC TONS.