According to the Hanoi Statistical Office, the city’s CPI fell by 0.21 percent compared to the previous month, equivalent to a year-on-year increase of 5.7 percent.

The decrease follows the annual general rule that after each Lunar New Year Tet Festival, food prices stabilise and return to the level of preceding months.

The price of rice was stable before, during and after Tet thanks to its abundant supply and the city’s price stabilisation efforts.

Vegetables saw a considerable drop in price because of favourable weather conditions that resulted in an increase in supply.

Some commodity groups, including food and restaurant services, garments, textiles and footwear, recorded a stable price level.

Others such as household goods and utensils saw a slight increase.

The price of gold fell 1.38 percent while that of US dollar was up 0.42 percent from the previous month.

During the first quarter of 2013, CPI has been up 2.04 percent against last December, a year-on-year increase of 6.03 percent. Hanoi ’s average monthly rise during the first three months of the year was 0.68 percent.-VNA