XN000022-1989-02-24 — Page 14

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1989

BY

COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1988, THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS INCREASED 2.4 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 2.3 PER CENT IN CPI(B). THIS WAS MAINLY DUE TO INCREASES IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, LIVE POULTRY AND SALT-WATER FISH AND IN THE AVERAGE CHARGE FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES.

THE INDEX FOR HOUSING INCREASED BY 0.4 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 0.6 PER CENT IN CPI(B) DUE TO HIGHER RENTS FOR SOME PRIVATE DWELLINGS.

THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT INCREASED BY 1.4 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 1.3 PER CENT IN CPI(B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES OF KEROSENE AS WELL AS THE FULL EFFECT OF THE RECENT INCREASED CHARGES FOR TOWNGAS AND THE RECENT UPWARD FUEL COST ADJUSTMENT FOR

ELECTRICITY.

THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECREASED BY 1.5 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 2.0 PER CENT IN CPI(B) BECAUSE OF LOWER PRICES OF OUTERCLOTHING.

THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS DECREASED BY 0.6 PER CENT BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B) DUE TO LOWER PRICES OF JEWELLERY.

IN

THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES INCREASED BY 1.3 PER CENT IN CPI(A) AND BY 1.4 PER CENT IN CPI (B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER BUS AND TAXI FARES.

AND

THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY 0.6 PER CENT IN CPI(A) BY 0.7 PER CENT IN CPU(B) BECAUSE OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR HAIR-DRESSING AND MEDICAL TREATMENT, AND ALSO HIGHER EXAMINATION FEES.

FIGURES HEREIN REFER TO CPI SERIES NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. ALL PERCENTAGE CHANGES ARE DERIVED FROM CPI FIGURES TAKEN TO MORE THAN ONE DECIMAL PLACE.

MORE DETAILS ARE GIVEN IN THE "CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT" FOR JANUARY 1989, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT $3.5 PER COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG: OR FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER 1, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.

DEPARTMENT,

IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE INFORMATION SERVICES FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, 1 BATTERY PATH, HONG KONG FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MAILINGS.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE INDEXES MAY BE MADE TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 5-8235089.

THE HANG SENG CPI WAS 128.5 IN JANUARY 1989, UP BY 0.4 PER CENT OVER DECEMBER 1988 AND UP BY 10.5 PER CENT OVER JANUARY 1988.

/THE HANG