Hanoi, Mar.20 (VNA) – The consumer price index (CPI) registered only a small rise in March in the country’s two major cities of Hanoi and HCM City.
Hanoi’s CPI rose 0.19 percent against last month, representing a year-on-year increase of 15.64 percent. Among 11 commodity groups, only post and telecom services remained unchanged. The group of housing, utilities, fuel and construction material saw the highest increase of 2.84 percent due to a hike in gas and petrol prices, followed by the group of transport with 1.36 percent.
Meanwhile, the price of restaurant services fell 0.8 percent. In Ho Chi Minh City, the index rose 0.12 percent against last month. The hike in fuel prices pushed prices of housing, electricity, water, fuel and construction material up by 2.51 percent, while the group of food and restaurant services fell 0.74 percent./.
Vietnam News Agency
