They also noted that an index based on earlier stages of production showed a decline in prices.

He added that his company's index of retail sales would probably show a 2.5 percent increase in December.

A separate index measured the social health of the nation as a whole and also showed a sharp decline since 1970.

The institute said a Europewide index showed a similar increase.

The index showed a 0.7 percent surge in inflation at the producer level.

The index has now shown declines during 13 of the last 15 sessions.

Japan's index, for example, shows its imports rising to only 100.1 in 1985 but to 113.7 last year.

If plans have been submitted, the index for the property should show a new building filing number.

Excluding food and energy, the index would have shown an increase of 0.5 percent.

Half the people in the poorest 24 countries were illiterate, the index showed.