Consumer price index (CPI) for the month of July rose in the country's two largest cities, Hanoi and HCM City, according to the statistics offices in these cities.

The July CPI in Hanoi grew by 0.18 percent against the previous month's level and 0.77 percent over the same month last year, the statistics office of Hanoi reported on July 22.

Nine of the 11 groups of goods used to calculate the CPI reflected a rise in prices this month. Of these, the price for the group comprising restaurant and catering services showed a growth of 0.13 percent due to a strong surge in food prices.

The price for the group of housing, electricity, tap water, fuel and building material increased by 0.32 percent because of high demand for electricity and water from households during the hot weather period, said the office.

The prices also rose by 0.26 percent for the group of beverages and tobacco; 0.47 percent for the group of textile, garment, hat and footwear; 0.38 percent for the group of home appliances; 0.13 percent for the group of culture, entertainment and tourism services; 0.11 percent for transport services; and 0.18 percent for other kinds of goods and services. However, prices for the groups comprising education and post-telecom services remained unchanged at last month's level.

The office said gold prices in July reduced by 3.75 percent but the US dollar price registered a slight increase of 0.01 percent against the previous month, the Ha Noi Moi newspaper reported.

Meanwhile, the HCM City Statistics Office on July 22 reported that the city's CPI rose by 0.11 percent in July over the previous month and 0.77 percent year-on-year.

Seven of 11 groups of goods used to calculate the CPI registered a rise in prices in the month of July. The highest increase in price was 1.36 percent for the group of health care services.

The prices rose by 0.13 percent for the group of restaurant and catering services due to a strong surge in food prices; 0.23 percent for the group of garments, hats and footwear; and 0.09 percent for the transport group.

The office said the two groups saw a fall in prices, including the group of housing, electricity, tap water and fuel (0.19 percent) and the group of culture, entertainment and tourism (0.03 percent) while price of education services remained unchanged at June level, the cafef.vn reported.

In HCM City, prices of gold and the US dollar fell by 1.49 percent and 0.01 percent, respectively.-VNA