European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday March 20, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 7consumer Index registers tiny Rise Washington a consumer prices eased by another drop in gasoline costs edged up a tiny 0.2 percent in february the smallest Advance in nine months the government said tuesday. The slight Advance in the labor departments consumer Price Index if it continued for 12 months would translate into an annual inflation rate of 2.7 percent far below the 6.1 percent increase recorded last year. The modest february gain which was also eased by a big moderation in food costs followed increases of 0.4 percent in january and 0.3 percent in december. Besides food and Energy the news on inflation front was not As Good. Excluding these volatile categories consumer prices Rose 0.7 percent in february reflecting the Impact of higher postal rates and big Price jumps for alcoholic beverages and women a clothing. Economists however tended to dismiss these advances As temporary factors that did not shake their belief that inflation will remain moderate this year. In another economic report tuesday the Commerce department said housing starts rebounded 16.4 percent in february the first sign of life in that Industry in three months. The government reported new. Construction of single and multifamily houses totalled a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 989.000. As in the past three months the Good news on inflation came Courtesy of a big drop in Energy prices which fell 4 percent last month led by a 7.4 percent decline in gasoline costs. After surging to More than $40 per barrel in the Wake of iraqis August invasion of Kuwait world Oil prices have now fallen below $20 per barrel and Many analysts Are looking for them to remain in that Range. Gasoline prices in february were 14.1 percent below the Peak level hit last november although they were still 9,1 percent higher than in the period before iraqis invasion of Kuwait. Home heating Oil prices fell 5.6 percent in february and natural Gas and electricity costs were Down 0.3 percent. Food and beverage prices edged up a Small 0.1 percent in february after surging 0.9 percent in january. Food costs by themselves were actually Down 0.2 per cent in february. This was offset however by a second big monthly gain in alcoholic beverages reflecting the higher Federal excise taxes. About 40 percent of the big 0.7 percent jump in the non food and non Energy categories came from the higher alcohol-,., in beverages Price a 16.1 percent Rise in postal Raks a 1.6 percent increase in clothing prices and a second big monthly jump in hotel and Motel prices. Labor department analyst Patrick Jackman said Many of these increases were onetime jumps that were not Likely to be repeated. He said the jump in women a clothing prices reflected earlier than Normal introduction of Spring and summer clothing lines. In the food category the Price moderation largely reflected a 2.3 percent drop in fruit and vegetable costs As All components other than oranges registered declines. The Price of oranges was up 9.5 percent of i lowing a 37.2 percent jump in january re fleeting the Impact of a Winter freeze. The various changes put the Index for. Consumer prices before seasonal adjust ment at 134.8, compared with 128,0 a year ago. That Means a Market Basket of goods that Cost $100 in the base period of 1982-84 Cost $128.00 a year ago and $134.80 last month. The 0.2 percent Rise in the Chi Foi february was the smallest Rise since a similar 0.2 percent increase in May 1990. . Inflation consumer Price Index percent change from prior month seasonally adjusted a 1.0% a 0.8% a 0.6% a 0.4% a 0.2% feb. �?T90 m a m j Jason o j f 1990 1991 feb. �?T91 Jan. �?T91 v0.5% 0.4% 1 1 0.2% s our on u s of i a Blacks Boycott Arab american store Over killing Milwaukee apr Blacks Are boycotting a store owned by an Arab american to protest the killing of a customer by the Butcher worsening relations already strained by Black anger Over growing Arab american control of inner City groceries Here. The feud was touched off by the shooting Jan. 19 of Michael Anderson 20, a Black father of four who was shot by his own gun during a scuffle with an Arab american Butcher at mothers food Market. A coroners inquest recommended no charges be filed against the Butcher after witnesses disagreed on which Man was the aggressor. Blacks have since boycotted the store and organized protests outside it even though the Butcher quit working there. They say the Effort is rooted in a belief that Arab immigrants Are funnelling profits out of the inner City through their stores. The Milwaukee dispute is the latest of Many conflicts around the nation Between Urban Blacks and the shop owners who either serve or exploit them it depending on ones Point of View. Milwaukee Sarab americans Many of whom live on the South Side have opened dozens of grocery stores on the North Side since the Early 1980s. A the arabs done to put anything Back Here a said Queen Hyler an anti crime activist who has won Praise from president Bush for her work in Milwaukee a Black Community. A a they re not involved in the Community and not concerned about the problems around  but some store owners said they Are the victims of anti Arab sentiment from the persian Gulf War and jealousy about their Success on the City a mostly Black poor North Side. A they think All the Money is Ouis a said Mike Eastley 26, a palestinian manager of a Small inner City grocery store. A they done to think we have Bills. They done to think we Send Money Back  since Andersons death family members have Organ three a company two a a crowd triplets april Allison and Andrea Plato far right seem out of place As they pose with 12 sets of twins in Jerseyville 111. The twins and triplets Are among 480 students at Jerseyville elementary school. School officials try to separate twins into different classrooms unless their parents request otherwise because a research has revealed that most twins do better if they Are separated a principal de Shelly said.  a Boycott and about 10 people protest in front of the store several times a week. For the Boycott to end Aiyub a Myers must demonstrate a greater concern Tor the Community and greater regard for the customers Vigani ers said. Several Black customers who ignored the Boycott to shop at the store however said they were angry about the killing but believe owner Adel Khz Erich has treated customers Well. Quot he a Good to  said Debbie Herman 32. A if you re Short lies la wait until you get Tood Stamps or until the end of the  Khebreh said his store has been a positive Torch in the Community. The store has extended credit to As Many As 50 patrons whose Bills now run into the hundreds of dollars he said. Five of the store s eight employees Are Black As Well As nearly All the customers and the store has donated Money to several neighbourhood endeavours he  of police in Miami to quit Miami apr Miami police chief Perry Anderson who faced heavy criticism for his handling of a Melee in a puerto rican neighbourhood and a haitian demonstration last year said monday he is resigning Anderson on the Force Lor 22 years and head of the department for nearly Thiee years will become police commissioner in Cambridge mass. He is scheduled to Start his new Job May 15. Anderson said one of his main reasons for leaving the $94.0 0-a-year position was that he  persuade the City to give him a Long term contract. A i think its mandatory or almost that because you have an awful lot of serious problems. In Miami you can to have a police chief sitting at the top feeling that he a going to be fired tomorrow Quot Anderson said. He said Cambridge has uttered him a three year contract but he gave no other details on the Deal. Anderson recently made the final Cut of 13 candidates for Dallas police chief but he Wasny to offered the Job. City manager Cesar Odio named Calvin Ross an assistant chief and a 19-year, police Veteran to replace Anderson. Anderson 46, weathered a storm of criticism last december after violence escalated in the City a impoverished Wynwood Section a largely puerto rican neighbourhood  and fires resulted in an estimated $3 million m damage and nearly a dozen arrests. Criticism that police were slow to react was unwarranted said Anderson who rioted that no one was seriously injured in the rampage. Anderson who Wash lamed last summer for ordering officers to use Force to break up a haitian demonstration said after the Wynwood disturbance a now in a being criticized because i did no to go in Early enough. You re damned if you do damned it you