The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in January rose 0.69 percent against the previous month as a result of the rapidly increasing demand for commodities ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year.

The figure represents a year-on-year increase of 5.45 percent, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

All 11 groups of commodity in the CPI basket registered a hike in prices during January, ranging from 0.17 percent to 1.22 percent.

The highest price rise of 0.86 percent was recorded in transport, which was attributed to the petrol price increase last month, as well as rising costs of public transport services.

The cost of foodstuffs went up 0.75 percent, and confectionery, sugar, butter, milk, beverages and tobacco also experienced the same trend.

A 0.63 percent rise was reported in the costs of house repairing services and construction materials were more expensive by 0.19 percent.

The groups of garment-textiles and footwear also posted a price surge of 0.89 percent.

Vietnam’s two biggest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, experienced January CPI increases of 0.7 and 0.4 percent respectively.-VNA