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Meanwhile, those components with slower year-on-year increases in prices than the overall average were durable goods (2.1% in CPI(A) and 2.4% in Composite CPI); meals bought away from home (3.8% in CPI(A) and 3.4% in Composite CPI); food (excluding meals bought away from home) (4.5% in CPI(A) and 4.4% in Composite CPI); transport (6% in CPI(A) and 5.8% in Composite CPI) and alcoholic drinks and tobacco (6.1% in both CPI(A) and Composite CPI).

Comparing December 1996 with November 1996, the CPI(A) and CPI(B) increased by 0.6% and 0.3% respectively. The corresponding increases for the Hang Seng CPI and Composite CPI were both 0.4%.

For the three months ended December 1996, the CPI(A) and CPI(B) were, on average, higher by 6% and 6.1% respectively over a year earlier. The corresponding increases for the Hang Seng CPI and Composite CPI were 6.2% and 6.1% respectively.

For 1996 as a whole, the CPI(A) and CPI(B) were, on average, higher by 6% and 6.4% respectively than 1995. The corresponding increases for the Hang Seng CPI and Composite CPI were 6.6% and 6.3% respectively.

The seasonally adjusted monthly rates of increase in the CPI(A) and CPI(B) averaged at 0.7% and 0.6% respectively during the three months ended December 1996. The corresponding increases for the Hang Seng CPI and Composite CPI were 0.7% and 0.6% respectively.

Further details are shown in Tables 1 and 2 and Charts 1 to 4.

More details are given in the "Consumer Price Index Report" for December 1996, which is available at $37 per copy from the Government Publications Centre, Queensway Government Offices, Low Block, ground floor, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong; or the Publications Unit of 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, 28th floor, Siu On Centre, 188 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

For enquiries about the indices, please telephone the Consumer Price Index Section of the Census and Statistics Department on 2805 6403.