Consumers shop at a supermarket in HCM City (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City’s November consumer price index (CPI) increased 0.1 percent over the previous month and even declined by 0.45 percent from the same period last year, the local statistics office revealed on November 23.
Prices of seven out of the 11 reviewed categories hiked from October, the office said, adding that the biggest pace, 0.64 percent, was recorded in household appliances.
They were followed by beverages and cigarettes (0.48 percent); accommodation, electricity, water, fuel and construction materials (0.26 percent); medicine and medical services (0.06 percent); education (0.04 percent); catering services (0.03 percent); culture and entertainment (0.01 percent).
Meanwhile, categories that saw their prices drop in November included transport (down 0.36 percent), post and telecommunication (0.14 percent), other goods and services (0.12 percent).
Costs for apparel, hats and footwear remained almost unchanged, the statistics office noted.
Experts said this month’s fall in CPI was also attributed to five gasoline price cuts between October 15 and November 16, along with lower costs of gas and steel products.
Gold and US dollar prices decreased by 0.79 percent and 0.49 percent from last month, respectively.
The office added that the average CPI for the 11 months rose 0.27 percent from a year earlier.-VNA
