Customers buy fresh fruits at a Big C Supermarket outlet in Ha Noi. The capital's April CPI was up 0.12 per cent over March. — VNS Photo Thai Ha

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The month-on-month consumer price indices (CPI) in the country's two biggest cities in April are dissimilar, with Ha Noi reporting a rise and HCM City enjoying a decline in CPI.

The Ha Noi Statistics Department reported that the capital's CPI in April edged up by 0.12 per cent over March.

Nine out of the 11 baskets of goods, which contribute to the calculation of the capital's CPI data, saw their prices increase this month. Among these, the prices of garments, footwear and hats reported the highest increase of 0.44 per cent. Food and foodstuff came second with a rise of 0.32 per cent.

However, the prices of housing and construction materials slid, making April the third consecutive month of fall in prices, the department reported, attributing it to the kerosene price which was cut twice, with the total reduction being VND280 per litre, and to the retail gas price cut of VND16,000 per 12-kg canister.

In contrast to Ha Noi, HCM City's CPI in April inched down 0.04 per cent against the previous month, according to the data of the HCM City Statistics Department.

As many as five out of the 11 baskets of goods, which contribute to the calculation of the city's CPI data, saw their prices fall in April. Among these, the prices of housing and construction materials (including rent, electricity, water, fuel and construction materials) reported the highest decline of 1.24 per cent.

After a decline of 0.35 per cent last month, the food prices dropped by 0.52 per cent in the city in April, due to a global price decrease and high supply. — VNS