CROATIAN RETAIL PRICES IN JULY LOWER BY 0.3% THAN IN JUNE

ZAGREB, Aug 1 (Hina) - Retail prices in July were lower in comparison to retail prices in June this year by 0.3 percent. Cost of living in July were lower by 1.3 percent than in the previous month, the Croatian Statistical Office said on Friday. Figures show the fall of prices of industrial products in July by 0.2 percent in comparison with those prices in June. This July retail prices increased by 2.7 percent in comparison to July last year, and retail prices in first seven months this year are higher by 3.7 percent than in the same period in 1996. According to figures, a decrease in living costs this July after June was the result of the drop in prices of food items and agricultural produce by 4 percent. Cost of living this July was higher by 3.2 percent than in July last year, whereas cost of living in the first seven months rose by 3.9 percent in comparison to the same period last year. (hina) mm mš 011357 MET aug 97