May CPI shows slight reduction due to dropping petrol, power, rice prices - Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The consumer price index (CPI) in May decreased by 0.03percent against the previous month and 1.24 percent against last December, butincreased by 4.39 percent year-on-year, the General Statistics Office (GSO)reported on May 29.
The average index forthe first five months was up 4.39 percent from that of the same period lastyear. In the period, basic inflation rose by 2.88 percent year-on-year.
According to the GSO,in May, four out of the 11 commodity groups experienced price reductions:transport (2.21 percent); culture, entertainment and tourism (0.02 percent); postand telecommunication services (0.02 percent); and garment, headwear and footwear(0.01 percent).
Increases were seen inprices of restaurant and catering service (0.34 percent); beverage and tobacco(0.25 percent); housing and building material (0.25 percent); other commoditiesand services (0.07 percent); household appliances (0.05 percent); and medicineand medical services (0.04 percent).
Meanwhile, prices inthe education group remained unchanged.
In the month, CPI inurban areas was down 0.17 percent, while that in rural areas was up 0.11percent.
Do Thi Ngoc, head ofthe GSO’s Price Statistics Department, attributed the falling CPI to decreasesin prices of petrol, electricity, rice, and housing rent.
In May, gold pricesmoved up in tandem with global gold prices, surging 2.41 percent from April tohover around 4.71 million VND (203.7 USD) per tael.
The VND/USD exchangerate reduced 0.41 percent, with one USD exchanged for 23,219 VND./.
VNA
