XN000022-1992-04-28 — Page 3

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TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1992

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ON THE OTHER HAND, RELATIVELY FASTER INCREASES IN PRICES WERE RECORDED FOR TRANSPORT (10.5% IN CPI(A) AND 9.2% IN CPI(B)}; SERVICES (11.0% AND 10.7%); MEALS AT RESTAURANTS (11.1% IN BOTH CPIS); AND HOUSING (12.5% IN BOTH CPIS).

COMPARING MARCH 1992 WITH FEBRUARY 1992, THE CPI(A) WAS HIGHER BY 0.6%, THE CPI(B) BY 0.5%, AND THE HANG SENG CPI BY 0.7%.

THIS COMPARISON WAS, HOWEVER, AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS.

THE INCREASES IN THE INDICES WERE MAINLY DUE TO HIGHER RENT FOR SOME PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS, HIGHER PRICES OF CIGARETTES AND FRESH VEGETABLES, AND HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEALS AT RESTAURANTS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH SEA PRODUCTS AND FRESH FRUIT RECORDED DECREASES.

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 1992, THE CPI (A) WAS, ON AVERAGE, HIGHER BY 10.1% THAN IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 1991. THE CORRESPONDING FIGURE WAS 10.0% FOR THE CPI(B).

FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED MARCH 1992, THE CPI(A) WAS, ON AVERAGE, HIGHER BY 11.5% THAN IN THE PRECEDING 12-MONTH PERIOD, THE CORRESPONDING FIGURE WAS 11.2% FOR THE CPI(B).

ON A SEASONALLY ADJUSTED BASIS, THE CPI(A) AND CPI (B) INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 1.1% AND 1.0% RESPECTIVELY PER MONTH DURING THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 1992.

THESE WERE HIGHER THAN THE CORRESPONDING RATES OF INCREASE RECORDED DURING THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 1991, AT 0.6% FOR THE CPI(A) AND 0.7% FOR THE CPI(B).

THIS RISE WAS MAINLY DUE TO FASTER MONTHLY INCREASES IN CHARGES FOR MEALS AT RESTAURANTS AND IN THE PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES.

FURTHER DETAILS ARE SHOWN IN TABLES 1 AND 2.

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT

MORE DETAILS ARE GIVEN IN THE 'CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT" FOR MARCH THIS YEAR, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT $9 PER COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL, HONG KONG; OR FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER 1, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG; OR FROM THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, 1 BATTERY PATH, HONG KONG FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MAILINGS.

FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE INDICES, PLEASE CALL THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 805 6403.

DETAILS REGARDING THE HANG SENG CPI ARE CONTAINED IN THE SENG CPI REPORT ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF SENG BANK LTD.

HANG

HANG

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