A consumer chooses products at a supermarket. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – TheConsumer Price Index (CPI) in October was down by 0.2 percent compared to Septemberbut rose by 1.81 percent compared to the same period last year, according tothe General Statistics Office (GSO).
The CPI in the two remaining months of theyear may surge as factors driving the figure down during social distancing willno longer have any impacts.
In October, food and cateringservices decreased by 1.28 percent from the previous month largely owing todrops of 0.25 percent and 9.38 percent in the prices of rice and pork,respectively, thanks to abundant supplies.
Housing and construction materials fell by 0.26percent, due to a cut in housing rental rates to support people at the timewhen social distancing order remained in place to stamp out the spread ofCOVID-19.
Electricity prices were also reduced becausethe arrival of autumn affected demand for power and water compared to theprevious month. Post and telecommunications inched down 0.04 percent.
Among eight groups of commodities andservices experiencing rising prices last month, transport witnessed the highestmonth-on-month increase of 2.51 percent attributed to the fuel pricehike.
Education inched up 0.25 percent againstSeptember.
The GSO also pointed out that core inflationin October saw a month-on-month decline of 0.17 percent but a year-on-year riseof 0.5 percent. In the first 10 months, the figure increased0.84 percent compared to the same period last year, reflecting price movementsdriven by the hikes of food, petrol and oil and gas prices.
Core inflation in October and the first 10months of 2021 compared to the previous year stood at the lowest level since2011.
As November-December will be a time tofocus on production, travel and procurement serving for major holidays, CPI in tourismservices and entertainment is projected to see growth./.
