XN000022-1992-04-02 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1992

DON'T MR WOODHOUSE SAID COPIES OF A LEAFLET "HAVE A NICE TRIP,

TRAVEL

THE IN AGENCIES CARRY DRUGS" ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL THE MAJOR

IN DRUG TERRITORY TO ADVISE TRAVELLERS HOW TO AVOID GETTING INVOLVED TRAFFICKING WHEN TRAVELLING ABROAD.

IT CAREFULLY WHEN "ALL TRAVELLERS SHOULD GET A COPY AND READ

THEIR AGENTS ΤΟ MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEY APPROACH THEIR TRAVEL TRIP," HE ADDED.

THE LEAFLET IS ALSO OBTAINABLE AT A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENT'S TRAVEL DOCUMENT ISSUE OFFICES.

THE IMMIGRATION

-

PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF RETAIL SALES SURVEY FOR JANUARY RELEASED

* * *

AT

LAST

THE VALUE OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, ESTIMATED $14,200 MILLION, INCREASED BY 35% WHEN COMPARED WITH JANUARY YEAR, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

AFTER DISCOUNTING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES OVER THE TOTAL RETAIL SALES ROSE BY 28% IN VOLUME.

CENSUS

PERIOD,

RECOVERY YEAR,

THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN SALES REFLECTED A FURTHER CONSUMER SPENDING, WHICH STARTED IN THE SECOND HALF OF LAST FROM THE LOW LEVELS IN 1989 AND 1990.

IN

FEBRUARY THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR TO EARLY FROM MID-FEBRUARY LAST YEAR ALSO PUSHED UP CONSUMER SPENDING

YEAR JANUARY.

LARGEST INCREASE SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES REGISTERED THE JANUARY 1992 COMPARED WITH A YEAR AGO, BY 121% IN VALUE AND 104% VOLUME.

THIS

IN

IN

IN

PART

THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE WAS RELATED TO THE PROMOTION CAMPAIGNS LAUNCHED BY SOME MOTOR VEHICLE DEALERS STARTING FROM THE LATTER OF 1991.

SALES OF JEWELLERY, WATCHES, CLOCKS AND VALUABLE INCREASED CONSIDERABLY, BY 51% IN VALUE AND 64% IN VOLUME, TO A GENERAL FALL IN THE PRICES OF JEWELLERY ITEMS.

GIFTS ALSO PARTLY DUE

SURGED BY SPENDING ON CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS

PROMOTION LAUNCHED 50% IN VALUE AND 40% IN VOLUME, BOOSTED BY SALES PRIOR TO THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

SALES IN DEPARTMENT STORES ALSO WENT UP FOR THE SAME BY 29% IN VALUE AND 20% IN VOLUME.

REASON,

/SALES IN