The CPI in October increased by 0.33 percent month on month (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Ten of the 11 goods categories haveseen price increases in October, raising the consumer price index (CPI) by 0.33percent from the previous month, according to the General Statistics Office(GSO).
The GSO said on October 29 that compared toSeptember, price hikes were recorded in transport (1.55 percent); education(0.58 percent); housing and building materials (0.31 percent); food andeating-drinking services (0.22 percent); garment, headwear and footwear (0.15percent); household appliances and goods (0.11 percent); culture, entertainmentand tourism (0.09 percent); beverage and cigarette (0.03 percent); medicine andhealthcare services (0.02 percent); and other goods and services (0.09percent).
Meanwhile, prices in postal services andtelecommunications declined 0.04 percent.
This month’s CPI grew 3.89 percent year on yearand 3.54 percent from last December. On average, the 10-month figure rose by3.6 percent from the same period of 2017.
Director of the GSO’s Price StatisticsDepartment Do Thi Ngoc said the causes for the CPI expansion include higherprices of pork, petrol and gas. School fees also increased as scheduled in somelocalities.
Meanwhile, lower prices of certain goods havecurbed further rise in the CPI, she noted, elaborating that abundant supplieshave led to a price drop in some agricultural products like fresh poultry meat,egg, citrus fruits and banana. Notably, dragon fruit prices have plunged 30 –50 percent from September.
In October, domestic gold prices fluctuated inaccordance with the global market, climbing 0.12 percent month on month toaround 36.6 million VND per SJC tael.
The USD/VND exchange rate continued to increaseslightly after the US Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate from 2percent to 2.25 percent since September 27.
Thanks to the State Bank of Vietnam’s setting ofthe daily reference exchange rate in comparison to eight key currencies as wellas abundant forex reserves, the USD prices have been kept stable, about 22,719VND per USD in the market, the GSO said.
It added that the core inflation, which is CPIexcluding food items, energy products and State-managed commodities (healthcareand educational services), inched up 0.13 percent month on month and 1.67percent year on year. It expanded 1.43 percent in the 10 months, compared tothe same period of 2017.-VNA
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