XN000022-1982-11-22 — Page 6

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1982

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RISES WERE RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH FRUITS AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES OF ORANGES CAUSED LARGELY BY THE DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR AGAINST THE U.S. DOLLAR AND IN THOSE OF FRESH VEGETABLES. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF PORK ALSO WENT UP. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF SALT-WATER FISH DECREASED OWING TO INCREASED SUPPLY DURING THE MONTH.

THE EFFECT OF THE MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS INSIGNIFICANT.

THE INDEX FOR HOUSING INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND C.P.1. (B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER RENTS FOR PRIVATE DWELLINGS.

THE 4-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT IN BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND C.P.I. (B) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER PRICES OF KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS AS WELL AS HIGHER CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY DUE TO FUEL COST ADJUSTMENT.

HIGHER PRICES FOR MEN'S AND WOMEN'S OUTERCLOTHING CAUSED THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR TO INCREASE BY THREE POINTS IN C.P.I. (A) AND BY FOUR POINTS IN C.P.I. (B).

THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY FIVE POINTS IN BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND C.P.I. (B) BECAUSE OF THE UPWARD MOVEMENTS IN BOTH SCHOOL FEES AND TEXTBOOK PRICES FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR OF 1982/83.

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN THE OTHER SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

REGARDING THE YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISON, IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT ACTUALLY DECREASED BY ONE POINT IN BOTH C.P.1. (A) AND C.P.I. (B) WHILE THE INDEXES FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR AND SERVICES EXPERIENCED THE LARGEST INCREASE OF 16 POINTS IN BOTH C.P.t. (A) AND C.P.I. (B).

DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT+ FOR OCTOBER 1982.

BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE VERSIONS OF THIS REPORT WILL BE ON SALE TOMORROW AT $3 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.

FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES, PLEASE CONTACT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT TELEPHONE NO. 3-7216512.

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