October 27, 1982

The split in political attitudes between men and women, a trend that Republicans have feared since women's unhappiness with President Reagan became clear in national polls last year, has emerged as a major factor in many 1982 election contests. Politicians report that what they call the gender gap is showing up widely in campaigns from coast to coast. Their campaign polls usually find Democrats getting more support from women while Republicans have more backing from men, but women vote in greater numbers than men. Facing this unaccustomed divergence, both parties are concentrating on women. Although they share some tactics, such as greater use of daytime television, the parties argue over whether the Reagan Administration's economic and budget policies have hit women hardest. Many Republicans are seeking to shield themselves from the effects of women's dislike for the Administration, shown repeatedly in national polls, by emphasizing education or the elderly in their campaigns.

Consumer prices rose only two-tenths of 1 percent in September, bringing the annual inflation rate so far to 4.8 percent. The rate for the year is now likely to be 5 percent or lower. (Page A1.) The price index for the New York-Northeastern New Jersey area rose much more sharply, eight-tenths of 1 percent, because of increases in the cost of food, housing and transportation. (A25.) The Government ran up a record budget deficit of $110.7 billion in the 1982 fiscal year, ended Sept. 30. Measured against the gross national product, however, the 1982 deficit was smaller than the previous record, $66.4 billion, in fiscal 1976. (D1.)

IT was a great day for American sportswear. The clothes looked comfortable and a little whimsical. They were fresh enough to make a woman want to go out and buy something new when warm weather strikes. But not only women were involved. Both Adri and Perry Ellis, who showed their new fashion collections yesterday, made ample provision for men. Their men's clothes are casual and are closely related to women's styles. Designing for men was a first for Adri, the winner of this year's Coty Award, who observed that men and women have been sharing their clothes for a long time. Several of her sweaters were identical for both sexes - only the sizing was different.

Consumer prices, held down by declining mortgage rates and housing prices, rose only two-tenths of 1 percent in September, bringing the inflation rate for the year so far to 4.8 percent, the Government reported today. The rate of inflation for all of 1982 is now likely to be 5 percent or lower, far less than the double-digit increases of 1979 and 1980. With just a week to go before the Congressional elections, the announcement of last month's Consumer Price Index by the Labor Department buttressed a campaign claim that President Reagan had been making for months - that the Administration has all but licked inflation and set the stage for an economic recovery. Arguments on Recovery Outlook But the Democrats have countered that the price of lower inflation is a severe recession and 10.1 percent unemployment, the highest rate since 1940. They, as well as some economists, also argue that the outlook for recovery is still uncertain.

The nation's major oil producers are entering the winter heating season with their lowest supplies of heating oil in more than 20 years. Although oil company officials and industry analysts say they do not expect shortages to occur, they also say that the relatively short supplies of refined heating fuel are pushing up retail prices. In large part, the reduced level of heating oil stocks reflects the changing economics of the oil industry. With crude oil in generous supply, and with consumption declining because of the recession and conservation measures, the oil industry has scaled back the use of its refineries and is attempting to hold down the cost of keeping refined products in storage.