Hanoi’s July consumer price index (CPI) increased by 1.32 percent over last month and 21.55 percent compared with the same period last year, the municipal Statistics Office announced. 

 The biggest price hike was seen in the group of restaurant services, with 2.67 percent; other CPI categories did not exceed 0.58 percent growth compared with the last month, excluding post and telecom services that maintained their prices in comparison with last month.

 According to economic experts, the price of restaurant services in July increased strongly as the price of food products was up to 3.74 percent.

 Other categories including housing, electricity, water, fuel and construction materials decreased because the world price of gas decreased and domestic gas firms reduced prices.

 Also during this month, gold prices rose rapidly, by 0.69 percent over last month and 33.67 percent compared with the corresponding period last year. Meanwhile, US dollar prices fell 0.07 percent against the previous month but saw a year-on-year increase of 8.14 percent.

 In efforts to restrain price increases, the municipal People’s Committee approved almost 500 billion VND to implement programmes for price stability with about 660 sales outlets of essential commodities, General Director of the Office Cong Xuan Mui said.

 This policy contributed to slowing the CPI increase this month, he said./.

 

Vietnamplus