A market in Laos (Photo:thestar.com.my)Vientiane (VNA) – Laos's inflation rate in April dropped to39.89%, a slight fall from the average rate of 40.85% in the first quarter of this year, accordingto the Lao Statistics Bureau.
The country recorded an inflation rate of 40.97% in March, thefirst drop from the previous month.
In April, the highest price rises were recorded in the foodand non-alcoholic beverage category, which surged by 52.21% year-on-year,followed by the medical care and medicines category at 42.55%; communicationsand transport category at 32.69%; hotel and restaurant category at 37.39%; household utilities at 34.20%; and housing, water, electricity, and gas category at26.59%.
Although the inflation rate tended to decrease compared tothe first three months of the year, prices of many commodities including pork,beef, chicken, and rice continued to increase by about 1.7% in general.
Statistics showed that in April, althoughthere was no pressure from the increase in oil prices, goods and commodities inLaos saw a spike in prices due to high demand during the Lao New Yearcelebration. Meanwhile, the continuing depreciation of the Lao kip is among thekey factors driving inflation in Laos./.
