XN000022-1993-04-23 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

FOOD

RELATIVELY SLOWER INCREASES IN PRICES WERE RECORDED FOR (EXCLUDING MEALS AT RESTAURANTS) (1.3% IN THE CPI(A) AND 1.9% IN THE CPI(B)); FUEL AND LIGHT (4.2% IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B)); TRANSPORT (5.5% IN THE CPI(A) AND 5.9% IN THE CPI(B)); MISCELLANEOUS GOODS (5.9% AND 5.4%); AND CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR (7.8% AND 8.0%).

ON THE OTHER HAND, RELATIVELY FASTER INCREASES IN PRICES WERE RECORDED FOR HOUSING (13.9% IN THE CPI(A) AND 14.8% IN THE CPI(B)); ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (10.7% AND 10.3%); SERVICES (10.6% AND 9.4%); AND MEALS AT RESTAURANTS (9.3% IN BOTH CPI(A) AND CPI(B)). BUT THESE INCREASES WERE GENERALLY SLOWER THAN IN THE PREVIOUS MONTHS.

COMPARING MARCH 1993 WITH FEBRUARY 1993, THE CPI(A) DECREASED BY 0.2% WHILE THE CPI(B) INCREASED MARGINALLY BY LESS THAN 0.05%. THIS COMPARISON WAS, HOWEVER, AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS.

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING MARCH 1993, THE CPI(A) WAS, ON AVERAGE, HIGHER BY 8.8% THAN IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING MARCH 1992. THE CORRESPONDING FIGURE FOR THE CPI (B) WAS 9.3%.

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FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING MARCH 1993, THE CPI(A) AND WERE, ON AVERAGE, HIGHER BY 9.1% AND 9.5% RESPECTIVELY THAN PRECEDING 12-MONTH PERIOD.

CPI(B) IN THE

INDICES.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED SERIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE THE DESEASONALISED CPI(A) AND CPI (B) BOTH INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 0.7% PER MONTH DURING THE THREE MONTHS ENDING MARCH 1993.

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT

MORE DETAILS ARE GIVEN IN THE "CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT" FOR MARCH 1993, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT $12 A COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG; OR FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAI TOWER, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG,

FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MAILINGS, CONTACT SHOULD BE MADE WITH THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FRENCH MISSION BUILDING, 1 BATTERY PATH, HONG KONG.

FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE INDICES, PLEASE TELEPHONE 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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