my $string = '00CH,Gateshead MCD,619,172.90,158.94,186.87,,537,87.42,7
+9.61,95.23,,11
+56,126.89,119.29,134.50
';
my (@ary);
(undef,undef,@ary) = split(/\s*,\s*/, $string);
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should take care of whitspaces before or after the comma as well.