CROATIA'S RETAIL PRICES RISE BY 3.6 % IN 1997

( Editorial: --> 1800 ) ZAGREB, Dec 31 (Hina) - This December's retail prices in Croatia rose by 3.8 per cent in comparison to retail prices in December 1996. Living costs increased by 4.9 per cent, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday. Retail prices in 1997 rose by 3.6 per cent in comparison to average retail prices in 1996, while living costs increased by 4.1 per cent this year. According to the Bureau, there was an increase of 2.7 per cent in commodity prices in 1997, while service charges recorded an increase of 8.2 per cent. The Bureau said that prices of industrial products decreased by 0.1 per cent this December in comparison to November. During 1997 the prices of means of labour and raw materials rose by 0.6 per cent, while the prices of consumer goods increased by 2.7 per cent in the same period. An increase in prices was recorded in 20 industrial branches this December in comparison to December of 1996, whereas a cut in producer prices was registered in eight industrial branches. One industrial branch had no changes in prices. (hina) mm mš 311720 MET dec 97