XN000022-1978-01-22 — Page 3

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 1978

LOWER COST OF LIVING LAST MONTH

*****

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES (A) AND (B) FOR LAST MONTH (DECEMBER) WERE 117 AND 118, EACH DOWN BY ONE POINT COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS DECREASED BY TWO POINTS IN BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND (B).

THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF PORK FELL, FOLLOWING DOWNWARD WHOLESALE PRICE MOVEMENTS OF LIVE SWINE AND THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF SALT-WATER FISH ALSO DECLINED DESPITE REDUCED SUPPLY. THE PRICE OF FRESH VEGETABLES DROPPED DUE TO INCREASED SUPPLY.

MOVEMENTS IN RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

ON ACCOUNT OF LOWER COST OF FUEL OIL, ELECTRICITY RATES FOR LAST MONTH WERE REDUCED AND THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT FELL BY ONE POINT IN BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND (B).

I

THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ADVANCED BY ONE POINT IN C.P.I. (A) AS A RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE RENT OF SOME PRIVATE DWELLINGS.

A RISE OF ONE POINT WAS RECORDED IN THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES IN C.P.I. (A) OWING TO HIGHER PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES.

HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT PUSHED THE INDEX FOR SERVICES UP BY ONE POINT IN C.P.1. (B).

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS 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 THE C.P. I. (B) BETWEEN $1,500 - $2,999 A MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY, 1973/74.

-

/THE SECTION