Ha Noi's CPI rose 0.38 per cent over the previous month and was up 0.65 per cent, compared with the same period last year. — VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — March's consumer price indices (CPIs) in the country's two largest cities have both risen, data from the authorities in Ha Noi and HCM City showed.

Ha Noi's CPI rose 0.38 per cent over the previous month and was up 0.65 per cent, compared with the same period last year.

The Ha Noi Statistics Office said surging demand for livestock and poultry during the period had pushed up the prices of food and catering services by 0.74 per cent, contributing to the rise in the CPI.

In addition, a cooking gas price hike of VND5,000 (24 US cents) from March 1 had lifted prices of housing, electricity, water and building materials by 0.33 per cent over February.

Gold prices plunged 3.25 per cent and the US dollar price lifted 0.02 per cent against the previous month.

Meanwhile, the HCM City Statistics Office reported a growth of 0.16 per cent in the city's CPI for March. The figure for the first three months also represented a 0.54 per cent annual increase.

The office said the increase was triggered by a sharp rise in demand for food and restaurant services (0.51 per cent), garments, hats and shoes (0.05 per cent), culture and entertainment (0.05 per cent) and housing, electricity, water and building materials (0.02 per cent).

Decreases were recorded in commodities and services (0.48 per cent), transportation (0.43 per cent), family appliances (0.04 per cent) and beverages and tobacco (0.22 per cent), said the office.

In contrast to the CPI, the prices of gold fell 0.54 per cent, while the US dollar exchange rate rose 0.82 per cent. — VNS