People shop at Co.op Mart in Ha Noi. Consumer price indices in the two largest cities have hit their highest levels in five months, driven by last month's petrol price hike. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— Consumer price indices in the two largest cities have hit their highest levels in five months, driven by last month's petrol price hike, General Statistics figures show.

July's CPI in Ha Noi rose 0.22 per cent over June and in HCM City, 0.17 per cent.

In the capital, prices of all 11 CPI goods increased, of which transport costs rose the most (115 per cent).

The General Statistics Office said July's transport price rise followed a decision to allow petrol prices to go up VND420-430 per litre and diesel, VND220 on June 16.

Another rise of VND420-470 per litre for gasoline, diesel and kerosene made on July 17 will impact on following months, the office noted, estimating that the petrol price hike could add 0.15 per cent to August's CPI.

July's prices of housing, power, fuel and construction materials in Ha Noi saw a rise of 0.66 per cent against last month in the wake of the petrol price hike.

With this month's rise, the capital's CPI was up 5.97 per cent against the same period last year.

In HCM City, July's 0.17 per cent hike caused the city's CPI to increase 0.96 per cent against December last year and 3.54 per cent over the same period last year.

Transport in HCM City saw the highest rise of 1.3 per cent. Items of food-restaurant, culture-entertainment, garment-textiles, hats and footwear also crept up between 0.1 per cent and 0.4 per cent.

Not included in the CPI, gold prices in July recorded falls of roughly 6.6 per cent month-on-month or 14.1 per cent year-on-year.

In contrast, the US dollar rose by 0.63-0.79 per cent month-on-month and 1.08 per cent year-on-year in July. — VNS