Customers purchase vegetables a supermarket in HCM City. May's consumer price index (CPI) in Ha Noi and HCM City showed continued growth, according to the cities' statistics offices. — VNA/VNS Photo Vu Sinh

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The consumer price index (CPI) for May showed continued growth in Ha Noi and HCM City, reported the cities' statistics offices.

The Ha Noi Statistics Office announced yesterday that the capital city's CPI showed a month-on-month increase of 0.12 per cent over April and a year-on-year surge of 0.93 per cent.

The office said the increase was mainly due to a surge in petrol price since May 5 that pushed many commodity prices up, especially transport items, which jumped 1.06 per cent since last month.

Housing, electricity, tap water, fuel and building materials jumped 1.44 per cent in the last month because of the rising price and demand for electricity and tap water in the summer, the office said.

Other goods also showed growth - 0.47 per cent for drink and tobacco; 0.3 per cent for garments, hat and footwear; and 0.28 per cent for cultural, entertainment and tourism services.

Only restaurant and catering services had a price reduction, which was 0.43 per cent compared to April.

In contrast to the CPI, the price of gold in Ha Noi continued its decline by 0.13 per cent in the last month and the price of the US dollar went up 0.44 per cent against last month.

The HCM City Statistics Office said the city's CPI only had a slight increase of 0.3 per cent over April.

Goods with price growth included garments, hat and footwear up 0.1 per cent; home appliances up 0.02 per cent; transport services up 1.05 per cent; and cultural, entertainment and tourism services up 0.07 per cent.

Housing, electricity, tap water and fuel jumped 2.18 per cent against last month because of the new electricity rates and increase in demand due to the hot summer weather.

Some goods items reduced in price. Like Ha Noi, restaurant and catering services went down 0.06 per cent. Postal and telecom services declined 0.02 per cent, and the other-goods and services group fell 0.04 per cent.

Of note, rice continued its reduction by 0.13 per cent and general food products went down 0.13 per cent.

In HCM City, the price of gold also dropped 0.4 per cent. — VNS