Vietnam: Inflation rises to five-month high in February
Consumer prices rose 0.73% over the previous month in February, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. The increase was slightly bigger than the 0.51% month-on-month increase in January. The upturn was broad-based, with prices rising in all but two of the 12 sub-components. Prices for food and foodstuff rose the most, while those for education increased very marginally. The only two subcategories for which prices were lower than the previous month were housing and construction materials, and postal services and telecommunications.
Inflation jumped from 2.7% in January to 3.2% in February, edging closer to the Central Bank’s target of 4.0%. February’s print marks a five-month high. Annual average inflation inched down to 3.2% in February from 3.3% in January.
Meanwhile, core consumer prices—which excludes rent, electricity, water, fuel and construction materials costs—climbed 0.49% over the previous month in February, a bigger rise than the 0.18% month-on-month increase in January. Core inflation inched up from 1.2% in January to 1.3% in February.