XN000022-1985-03-26 — Page 5

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1985

(OCTOBER 1979 TO SEPTEMBER 1980 AVERAGE -

- 100)

CPI(A)

CPI(B)

SECTION

FEB. 84

JAN. 85 FEB. 85

FEB. 84

JAN. 85 FEB. 85

FOODSTUFFS

156.0

153.4

155.6

156.3

154.3

156.5

HOUSING

142.0

153.2

153.3

142.7

152.8

152.8

FUEL AND LIGHT 151.2

146.8

146.8

151.0

146.7

146.7

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

AND TOBACCO

(FOR HOME

CONSUMPTION)

207.6

208.5

209.3

199.9

201.0

201.6

CLOTHING AND

FOOTWEAR

149.4

165.2

161.4

149.3

166.7

161.9

DURABLE GOODS

123.9

124.2

123.8

127.1

128.6

128.3

MISCELLANEOUS

GOODS

147.5

149.5

150.3

144.5

145.4

146.2

TRANSPORT AND

VEHICLES

167.3

173.0

175.1

169.1

175.5

177.0

SERVICES

165.3

179.4

182.6

163.7

175.5

178.5

ALL ITEMS

153.6

156.5

157.9

152.8

157.0

158.0

COMPARED WITH JANUARY 1985, THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY 2.2 POINTS IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B). THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF LIVE POULTRY, FRESH VEGETABLES, FRESH-WATER FISH, PORK, SHRIMPS AND CRABS WENT UP DUE TO INCREASED DEMAND AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. THE AVERAGE CHARGE FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES ALSO ROSE. THE EFFECT OF MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS INSIGNIFICANT.

DUE TO INCREASED DUTY ON IMPORTED TOBACCO, RETAIL PRICES OF CIGARETTES WERE RAISED AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. CONSEQUENTLY, THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) WENT UP BY 0.8 POINT IN CPI(A) AND 0.6 POINT IN CPI(B).

HOWEVER, LOWER PRICES OF OUTERCLOTHING CAUSED THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR TO FALL BY 3.8 POINTS IN CPI(A) AND 4.8 POINTS IN CPI(B).

/THE INDEX ..........