XN000022-1978-08-22 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1978

COST OF LIVING FOR JULY ADVANCES

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THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES (A) AND (B) FOR LAST MONTH (JULY) WERE BOTH 125, UP THREE POINTS AND TWO POINTS RESPECTIVELY COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY THREE POINTS IN BOTH C.P.1. (A) AND C.P.I. (B).

WITH A REDUCTION IN SUPPLY, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH-WATER FISH ADVANCED AND THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE MONTH CAUSED THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH VEGETABLES TO RISE SUBSTANTIALLY.

AS SOME RESTAURANTS AND EATING-PLACES RAISED THEIR PRICES, THE AVERAGE CHARGES FOR MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME WENT UP.

MOVEMENTS IN RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND C.P.1. (B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR TELEPHONE SERVICES AND CINEMA ENTERTAINMENT.

INCREASES OF ONE POINT EACH WERE RECORDED IN THE INDEXES FOR DURABLE GOODS AND MISCELLANEOUS GOODS IN C.P.I. (A) BECAUSE OF HIGHER PRICES FOR WOODEN FURNITURE AND MEDICINES.

THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ALSO ROSE BY ONE POINT IN C.P.I. (B) OWING TO HIGHER CHARGES FOR HOUSING MAINTENANCE.

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