Ho Chi Minh City ’s consumer price index (CPI) in December inched down 0.36 percent against the previous month due to the decline in fuel prices, the municipal Statistics Department reported on December 22.

On a year-on-year basis, the index marks a rise of 1.65 percent.

During the month, transportation and postal costs recorded the steepest decrease of 3.54 percent; followed by housing, electricity, water, fuel and construction materials (0.95 percent), culture and entertainment (0.22 percent), beverages and cigarettes (0.18 percent), other goods and services (0.06 percent).

Higher prices were seen in posts and telecommunications (0.7 percent), apparels and footwear (0.14 percent), pharmaceuticals and medical services (0.06 percent), household utensils (0.02 percent).

Food and restaurant service prices rose by 0.17 percent, buoyed by higher demand during the Christmas and New Year festivities./.