H—4B

Appendix C—Consumers' Price Index: Population Weights—continued POPULATION WEIGHTS, SERIES B (Applies to Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables, Clothing, Hardware, Furniture, and ('leaning Supplies Groups) Population Weights—i.e., Population, at Ist April, 1948, 1. AUCKLAND (Whangarei and adjacent towns ; Auckland and adjacent towns) 317,560 2. HAMILTON (Hamilton and adjacent towns ; Tauranga and adjacent towns ; Rotorua and adjacent towns) .. .. .. .. .. 63,350 3. NAPIER (Gisborne and adjacent towns ; Napier and adjacent towns) .. 56,690 4. NEW PLYMOUTH (New Plymouth and adjacent towns) .. .. .. 35,030 5. PALMERSTON NORTH (Palmerston North and adjacent towns ; Wanganui and adjacent towns) .. .. .. .. .. .. 69,910 6. WELLINGTON (Wellington and adjacent towns; Masterton and adjacent towns) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 206,030 7. NELSON (Nelson and adjacent towns ; Blenheim and Westport boroughs) .. 28,680 8. CHRISTCHURCH (Christchurcli and adjacent towns; Greymouth and adjacent towns (but excluding Westport Borough); Ashburton and adjacent towns ; Timaru City (but excluding Waimate Borough) ) .. .. 181,670 9. DUNEDIN (Dunedin and adjacent towns ; Waimate and Oamaru Boroughs) 98,790 10. INVERCARGILL (Invercargill and adjacent towns) .. .. .. 32,300 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,090,010 POPULATION WEIGHTS, SERIES C (Applies to Household Appliances, Personal and Educational Requisites, and Services Groups) Population Weights—i.e., Population at Ist April, 1948. 1. AUCKLAND (Whangarei and adjacent towns ; Auckland and adjacent towns ; Hamilton and adjacent towns ; Tauranga and adjacent towns ; Rotorua and adjacent towns ; Gisborne and adjacent towns ; New Plymouth, Taumarunui, and Waitara Boroughs (but excluding Stratford and Hawera Boroughs)) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 423,050 2. WELLINGTON (Napier and adjacent towns ; Wanganui and adjacent towns ; Palmerston North and adjacent towns ; Wellington and adjacent towns; Masterton and adjacent towns ; Stratford and Hawera Boroughs) .. 325,520 3. CHRISTCHURCH (Nelson and adjacent towns; Greymouth and adjacent towns ; Christchurch and adjacent towns ; Ashburton and adjacent towns ; Blenheim Borough and Timaru City (but excluding Waimate Borough)) 210,350 4. DUNEDIN (Dunedin and adjacent towns; Invercargill and adjacent towns; Waimate and Oamaru Boroughs) .. .. .. .. .. 131,090 Total .. .'. .. .. .. .. .. 1,090,010 The successive steps in the compilation of the quarterly New Zealand all-groups index numbers are as follows : (1) The group index numbers for each of the four chief centres are selected as indicated in para. 30 of this report. (2) The group or sub-group index numbers for each of the next six towns will be similarly selected, but in this case no sub-group index numbers for household appliances, personal and educational requisites, or services will be available. (3) The group index numbers for the remaining eleven towns will again be similarly, selected, but will cover the food, housing, and fuel and lighting groups only. (4) The New Zealand index number for each sub-group and group in turn will then be computed by combining the individual-town index numbers which are available in that sub-group or group. In this process the population weights listed above will be employed-—i.e., for groups in which there is a group index number for each of the twenty-one towns, Series A population weights will apply; for sub-groups or groups where there are index numbers for only ten towns, Series B will be substituted; and for sub-groups where only the four centres are represented, Series C will be used. This procedure is equivalent to imputing to towns not fully covered in the price-collection, prices for the omitted items obtaining in the nearest town which is covered. (5) The New Zealand sub-groups index numbers are then (where required) combined into New Zealand group index numbers, and these again into the New Zealand all-groups index numbers by the application of the sub-group and group weights listed in Appendix B. (6) The compilation of monthly group index numbers will proceed along lines similar to those indicated above.

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