XN000022-1986-05-23 — Page 7

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1986

PRICE MOVEMENTS DESCRIBED BELOW ARE BASED ON THE NEW CPI

SERIES.

DURING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED APRIL 1986, THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED NEW CPI(A) INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 0.3 PER MONTH AND THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED NEW CPI(B), AT 0.4 PER CENT PER MONTH.

DURING APRIL, RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR WERE HIGHER. CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES, BUS AND TRAIN FARES, AND RENTALS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DWELLINGS ALSO WENT UP. ON THE OTHER HAND, RETAIL PRICES OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND FUEL COST ADJUSTMENTS FOR ELECTRICITY AND TOWNGAS WERE LOWER.

THE NEW CPI(A) AND NEW CPI(B) ARE BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERNS OF 50 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT, RESPECTIVELY, OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WERE DERIVED FROM THE 1984/85 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY.

THE NEW CPI(A) REFERS TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $2 000 AND $6 499 A MONTH AT THAT TIME, AND THE NEW CPI(B), BETWEEN $6 500 AND $9 999 A MONTH.

CHANGES IN THE INDEXES FOR APRIL 1986 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITY-SERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES, AS COMPARED WITH MARCH 1986, ARE GIVEN BELOW,

(OCTOBER 1984 TO SEPTEMBER 1985 AVERAGE - 100)

NEW CPI(A)

NEW CPI(B)

INDEX FOR % CHANGE

INDEX FOR

% CHANGE

SECTION

APR. 86

OVER MAR. 86 APR. 86

OVER MAR. 86

FOODSTUFFS

100.7

+0.1

101.0

+0,1

HOUSING

104.2

+0.8

103.6

+0.6

FUEL AND LIGHT

95.3

-3.7

95.7

-3.5

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

105.9

+0.3

105.8

+0.3

AND TOBACCO (FOR

HOME CONSUMPTION)

CLOTHING AND

FOOTWEAR

107.6

+4.6

108.7

+5.4

DURABLE GOODS

105.1

+2.6

104.5

+2.3

·

/MISCELLANEOUS GOODS