XN000022-1977-09-21 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1977

NO CHANGE IN CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR AUGUST

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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES (A) AND (B) FOR LAST MONTH (AUGUST) BOTH REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 119 AS IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE C.P.I.(A) IS BASED ON EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $400 - $1,499 A MONTH, AND THE C.P.I.(B) IS BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1,500 $2,999 A MONTH.

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THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS 1 POINT HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS MONTH IN C.P.I.(A). A RISE IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH VEGETABLES MORE THAN OFFSET FALLS FOR FRESH WATER FISH AND LIVE POULTRY, C.P.1. (B) WAS UNCHANGED WHEN ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST WHOLE POINT.

INCREASES OF 1 POINT EACH WERE RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT AND FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO IN BOTH C.P.I.(A) AND C.P.I.(B), OWING TO HIGHER PRICES FOR ELECTRICITY CHARGES AND CIGARETTES.

THE INDEXES FOR DURABLE GOODS, MISCELLANEOUS GOODS AND SERVICES ROSE BY 1 POINT EACH IN C.P.I.(A) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR OPTICAL GOODS, CROCKERY, EARTHENWARE, MEDICINES AND HAIRDRESSING CHARGES.

HIGHER PRICES FOR THE PURCHASE OF AND REPAIR TO MOTOR VEHICLES CAUSED THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES TO RISE BY 1 POINT IN C.P.I.(B). HOWEVER, THE EFFECT OF THESE INCREASES ON THE ALL-ITEMS+ INDEXES WAS SMALL.

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.