Hanoi’s consumer price index (CPI) in December rose by 1.31 percent since the previous month, the municipal statistics department reported.

The index represented a 5.31 percent increase against the same period last year, said the department.

Eight of the 10 goods groups, including foodstuffs and services, drinks and cigarettes, garments-footwear, housing-electricity-water-fuel-building materials, home equipment-appliances, medicines and healthcare services, transportation and cultural, recreational and tourism products, and other commodities and services, saw rises in prices, ranging between 0.03-3.09 percent.

Meanwhile, the price of post-telecommunication and educational services remained unchanged compared with the previous month.

The city’s CPI is expected to rise by 8.22 percent year-on-year in 2009.

In December, the gold price surged by 12.96 percent and the price of the US dollar rose by 4.82 percent over those in November./.