Vietnam: Inflation stable in February
According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, consumer prices rose 0.80% in month-on-month terms in February, contrasting the 0.10% fall recorded in January. The upturn was the strongest month-on-month rise in prices since August 2017 and was chiefly driven by a surge in food prices, while housing and construction materials costs rose slightly. The print was partly offset by lower prices for education, as well as postal services and telecommunication.
Inflation, meanwhile, was stable at January’s 2.6% in February, remaining in line with the Central Bank’s target of below 4.0% inflation. Annual average inflation on the other hand ticked down to 3.5% in February, from 3.6% in January.
Core consumer prices, which excludes prices for rent, electricity, water, fuel and construction materials, rose 0.48% month-on-month in February, up from the 0.30% increase in January. Finally, core inflation was steady at January’s 1.8% in February.