March’s CPI Down 0.44 percent
The consumer price index (CPI) in March decreased by 0.44 percent from the previous month, the lowest in the March period over the past 11 years, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
The figure, however, rose 4.39 percent compared to the same period last year.
Accordingly, the country's CPI in the first quarter increased 4.38 percent.
Four groups of goods and services saw a drop in prices including food and services (minus 0.96 percent), housing and construction materials (minus 0.74 percent), transport (minus 0.03 percent) and post and telecommunications (minus 0.03 percent).
Other groups witnessed slight increases of less than 1 percent. The drinks and beverages, and tobacco rose 0.24 percent.
The CPI in ten provinces and cities also fell in March such as Ha Noi (down 0.15 percent), Ho Chi Minh City (down 0.46 percent), Thai Nguyen (down 0.48 percent), Hai Phong (0.09 percent) and Thua Thien - Hue (down 0.4 percent).
Meanwhile, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Vinh Long and Can Tho witnessed decreases of 0.64 percent, 0.56 percent, 0.78 percent, 0.46 percent, and 0.75 percent, respectively.
The gold price in March rose 3.31 percent compared to February and a year-on-year decrease of 17.97 percent and down 21.77 percent over the past three months.
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