HCM City’s CPI rises 0.11 percent in March

HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City’s consumer price index (CPI) in March rose 0.11 percent over February and 4.01 compared to the same time last year.

According to the city’s Statistics Office, upturn was seen in the prices of seven out of 11 consumer goods groups.

The highest rise was seen in the price of transportation, with 2.66 percent month-on-month, followed by housing fees, power, water supply services, fuel, and construction materials at 0.83 percent; culture, entertainment, and tourism at 0.65 percent; beverage and tobacco at 0.59 percent; medicine and medical services at 0.01 percent; and education at 0.01 percent.

Meanwhile, decreases were recorded in the prices of other goods and services (0.47 percent); post and telecommunications (0.11 percent); equipment and household appliances (0.15 percent); and foods and catering services (0.98 percent).

In the food and catering services sector, food prices were down 1.53 percent, and the price of catering services decreased 0.44 percent, while the price of foodstuffs rose 0.01 percent compared to that in February.

At the same time, the price of gold dropped 0.32 percent, while that of the US dollar increased 0.03 percent month-on-month.–VNA