XN000022-1979-09-25 — Page 5

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1979

COST OF LIVING FOR AUGUST RISES

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THE AUGUST CONSUMER PRICE INDEX(A) WAS 144 AND INDEX(B) WAS 143, UP FOUR POINTS AND THREE POINTS RESPECTIVELY.

THE ANNUAL AVERAGE FOR FEBRUARY 1979 WAS 132.3 FOR C.P.I.(A) AND 132.5 FOR C.P.I.(B), EACH BEING ONE PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH. WHEN COMPARED WITH THE ANNUAL AVERAGE FOR FEBRUARY A YEAR AGO, THE INCREASES WERE RESPECTIVELY NINE PER CENT AND 8.9 PER CENT.

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 INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS IN AUGUST WENT UP BY SIX POINTS C.P.1. (A) AND BY FIVE POINTS IN C.P.I.(B).

ADVERSE WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH TYPHOON HOPE CAUSED THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, SALT-WATER FISH AND FRESH-WATER FISH TO RISE SUBSTANTIALLY,

THE COST OF MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME ALSO WENT UP AS SOME RESTAURANTS AND EATING-PLACES RAISED THEIR PRICES.

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ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH FRUITS DECLINED. MOVEMENTS IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT ADVANCED SUBSTANTIALLY BY 12 POINTS IN C.P. I. (A) AND BY TEN POINTS IN C.P.I.(B), REFLECTING THE FULL IMPACT OF THE RISES IN PRICES OF KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS SINCE JULY AS WELL AS THE HIGHER CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY.

HIGHER PRICES FOR CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO PUSHED THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO UP BY THREE POINTS IN BOTH C.P.I.(A) AND C.P.I.(B).

THE RISE OF ONE POINT IN THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR IN C.P.I.(A) WAS MAINLY BROUGHT ABOUT BY HIGHER PRICES FOR MEN'S UNDERCLOTHING ITEMS.

THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS ROSE BY ONE POINT EACH IN C.P.I.(A) AND C.P.I.(B) BECAUSE OF HIGHER PRICES FOR FURNITURE AND OPTICAL GOODS.

THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS INCREASED BY ONE POINT IN C.P.I.(A) AND BY TWO POINTS IN C.P.I.(B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR MEDICINES, TOILET REQUISITES, RELIGIOUS ITEMS AND FRESH FLOWERS.

THE RISE OF TWO POINTS IN THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES IN C.P.I.(B) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER PRICES AND REPAIRING CHARGES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE FULL IMPACT OF THE INCREASES IN PRICES OF PETROL AND OIL SINCE JULY.

/ON ACCOUNT.....