Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has sent a dispatch to ministers, heads of ministry-level agencies and chairmen of the People’s Committees of centrally-run provinces and cities, asking for strengthened efforts in the management of prices of essential goods and services.

They were also requested to continue implementing directions of the head of the Price Management Steering Committee, keeping a close watch on market developments, and giving timely measures to ensure domestic supply-demand balance, stabilise prices and avoid the shortage of goods and speculation that will lead to unreasonable price increases.

The Minister of Transport was asked to collaborate with leaders of localities to consider the adjustments of prices of goods and services directly affected by petrol prices, such as transport and logistics.

The PM asked for the control of the price application of businesses to give suitable management and stabilisation solutions, along with the strengthening of inspection over the implementation of the law on prices and related regulations and the strict settlement of violations.

Regarding the prices of food, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development was directed to coordinate with the Minister of Industry and Trade to evaluate the production and regulation of goods for domestic consumption among regions and localities as well as the demand for export to stabilise market prices.

The PM asked for the re-assessment of the pork distribution system, aiming to make it simpler and more effective, ensuring reasonable prices.

On the prices of construction materials, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, the Minister of Construction, and leaders of localities were requested to manage the supply and settlement of goods speculation efficiently.

The Ministry of Construction was directed to update construction materials prices regularly and announce the costs more quickly.

Leaders of localities were asked to detect the abuse of peak tourism occasions and petrol price fluctuation to stop unreasonable increases in travel and accommodation service prices.

The PM also gave directions on the management of the prices of textbooks and the flexible use of the petrol price stabilisation fund to make reasonable management over domestic petrol prices.

The Ministry of Finance was assigned to work with relevant ministries and agencies to give market price forecasts and update the detailed price management scenarios for the rest of the year, thus supporting the Government and the PM in seeking measures to realise the goal of keeping the inflation rate at 4 per cent for this year. — VNS