Hanoi's consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.13 percent in October against last month, a 20.43 percent increase over the same period last year, the Hanoi Statistics Office announced on Oct. 19.

The city's CPI in October, the lowest single monthly increase since May of last year, was attributable to adequate supplies of meat, oil price adjustments and drastic measures taken by local authorities to curb inflation, the office said.

This month, the food sector followed the previous month's declining tendency with prices of livestock and poultry seeing a significant drop of 2 percent.

The cost of housing, electricity, water, fuel and construction materials also decreased, mainly because of the falling global gas price that has resulted in a 9,000-10,000 VND (0.43-0.5 USD) reduction for a 12kg canister in the domestic market.

Despite falling food prices, restaurant and catering services witnessed the greatest price increase at 1.35 percent, due to rising costs such as shop rentals and staff wages.

The CPI market basket in Vietnam currently contains 11 items: foods, restaurants services, beverages, textiles, medical services, transportation, post and communications, educational services, electricity and construction materials. /.