XN000022-1977-05-20 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1977

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR APRIL

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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES (A) AND (B) FOR APRIL, 1977 WERE BOTH 117, EACH BEING THE SAME AS THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE OVERALL FOODSTUFFS INDEX REMAINED THE SAME AS THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH FOR BOTH INDEXES (A) AND (B). INCREASES IN PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, RESTAURANT MEALS AND LIVE POULTRY WERE LARGELY OFFSET BY DECREASES IN PRICES OF FISH OF ALL KINDS, EGG AND PORK.

INCREASES OF ONE POINT EACH WERE RECORDED IN THE INDEXES FOR DURABLE GOODS AND SERVICES IN BOTH INDEX (A) AND INDEX (B) OWING TO HIGHER PRICES FOR HARDWARE, IRONMONGERY, CUTLERY AND OPTICAL GOODS AND INCREASED CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.

THE INDEXES FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR AND MISCELLANEOUS GOODS ROSE BY ONE POINT EACH IN INDEX (A) FOLLOWING HIGHER PRICES FOR SOME ITEMS OF MEN'S AND WOMEN'S UNDERCLOTHING, TOILET REQUISITES AND FRESH FLOWERS.

THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ADVANCED BY ONE POINT IN INDEX (B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER HOUSING CHARGES.

HOWEVER, THE EFFECT OF THESE INCREASES ON THE +ALL-ITEMS+ INDEX WAS SMALL.

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

GOVERNOR TO GO ON LOCAL LEAVE ******

THE GOVERNOR WILL TAKE LOCAL LEAVE FROM MAY 21 TO 29.

SIR DENYS ROBERTS HAS BEEN APPOINTED DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THIS PERIOD.

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