For the first time since early 2011, consumer price index (CPI) has increased in minimal range. In May 2011, CPI increased by 2.3% in comparison to April, during which some commodities with increased CPI including food (5.4%), housing and construction materials (2.47%), electricity (3.11%), clean water (0.56%); gas (4.09%), kerosene (9.11%), other groups of goods and services (4.63%).

Compared with December 2010, Binh Duong CPI rose 12.2%, of which food and catering services, housing, electricity, water, fuel and construction materials and so on are of increasing factors. While the May increase was lower than the increase April 2011 (down 0.3%), the overall growth remains higher than in May of last year. Total retail sales of goods and services was estimated at VND 4,380.2 billion in May, up 2.6% over the previous month, or up 34.7% over the same period. Accumulated five months' amount of retail sales of goods and services reached VND 21,216.1 billion, up 31.4% over the same period. 

Reported by Khanh Vinh - Translated by Vi Bao