XN000022-1977-12-22 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1977

LOWER COST OF LIVING IN NOVEMBER

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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX(A) FOR LAST MONTH (NOVEMBER) WAS 118, DOWN BY TWO POINTS, AND İNDEX(E) WAS 119, DOWN BY ONE POINT COMPARED WITH THOSE IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFF DECREASED BY THREE POINTS IN

C.P.I.(A) AND BY TWO POINTS IN C.P.I.(E).

DUE TO INCREASED SUPPLY, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH VEGETABLES DECLINED. ON THE OTHER HAND, RISES WERE RECORDED IN THE RETAIL AVERAGE PRICE OF SALT-WATER FISH DESPITE STABLE SUPPLY, AND OF FRESH-WATER FISH DUE TO IRREGULAR SUPPLIES.

AS SOME RESTAURANTS AND EATING-PLACES RAISED THE IR PRICES, THE AVERAGE PRICE OF MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME ROSE. MOVEMENTS IN RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS WERE INSIGNIFICANT,

THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR WENT UP BY THREE POINTS IN BOTH C.P.1. (A) AND C.P.I.(E). THIS WAS DUE TO HIGHER PRICES FOR SOME OUTERCLOTHING ITEMS AS SOME SHOPS STOPPED THEIR DISCOUNT SALES DURING THE MONTH.

A RISE OF ONE POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR HOUSING IN C.P.1.(3) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR HOUSING MAINTENANCE.

HIGHER PRICES FOR MEDICINES AND JEWELLERY PUSHED THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS UP BY ONE POINT IN C.P.1.(B).

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS AND SERVICES WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

THE C.P.I.(A) IS BASED ON WEIGHTS DERIVED FROM THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $400-$1,499 A MONTH AND C.P.I.(B) BETWEEN 1,500-$2,999 A MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY, 1973/74.

/THE SECTION