Vietnam ’s consumer price index (CPI) in January rose 1 percentagainst last month, representing a year-on-year increase of 17.27percent.
According to economic experts, the CPIslight rise reflected the fact that a majority of people tightened theirbelts due to economic difficulties.
Among 11 commodity groups, only post and telecom services continued reducing by 0.01 percent.
The biggest price hike in the month was seen in garments and footwear(1.97 percent) due to increasing demands to cope with bitter cold innorthern provinces and for the traditional New Year festival.
Pricehikes were also seen in the group of drinks, tobacco and commoditiesfor the traditional New Year festival, with an increase of 1.17 percent.
Theprice for pure gold dropped by 3.72 percent in comparison with Decemberdue to the reduction of the world gold price. Meanwhile, the price ofthe US dollar increased 0.05 percent, with one US dollar valued at21,294 VND.
