XN000022-1983-01-26 — Page 4

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WEDNES, JAI JARY 26, 1983

THE INDEX FOR HOUSING INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CP AND BY ONE POINT IN CPI (B) BECAUSE OF INCREASED RENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL FLATS IN HOUSING AUTHORITY GROUP B ESTATES AND FOR FORMER GOVERNMENT LOW-COST HOUSING FLATS IN THE GROUP A ESTATES.

THE TWO-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER PRICES OF CIGARETTES.

THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECREASED BY ONE POINT IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B) OWING TO LOWER PRICES OF OUTER CLOTHING.

HIGHER PRICES OF MEDICINES AND JEWELLERY CAUSED THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS TO INCREASE BY ONE POINT IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B).

THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY ONE POINT IN CPI (A) AND BY TWO POINTS IN CPI (B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR PACKAGE TOUR AND FOR ADMISSION TO DISCOTHEQUES AND NIGHT CLUBS AROUND THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN THE OTHER SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

AS FROM DECEMBER 1982, THE MONTH-TO-MONTH PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN THE ALL-ITEMS AND FOODSTUFFS SECTION SERIES OF THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CPI (A) AND CPI (B) WILL BE PUBLISHED MONTHLY. THE AVERAGE MONTHLY CHANGES OF THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CPI (A) AND CPI (B) FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED IN DECEMBER 1982 WERE 1.1 PER CENT AND ONE PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.

TO ASSIST USERS TO INTERPRET THESE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED FIGURES, AN INTRODUCTORY ARTICLE IS ATTACHED AS AN APPENDIX TO THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT+ FOR DECEMBER 1982.

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

BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE VERSIONS OF THIS REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT $3 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, FING 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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