The average CPI rose 2.61 per cent on-year between January and July, the lowest growth for a seven-month period over the past three years. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan

The national consumer price index (CPI) in July grew 0.18 per cent from the previous month and 2.44 per cent year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Among the 11 main commodity groups, nine experienced price rises, including goods and other services with the highest rise of 0.94 per cent; food and catering services (0.33 per cent); education (0.22 per cent); culture, entertainment and tourism (0.15 per cent), beverage and tobacco (0.12 per cent).

The prices of transportation; housing, electricity, water and construction materials saw the same price drop of 0.03 per cent.

Director of the GSO’s Price Statistics Department Do Thi Ngoc said the rise in July’s CPI was fuelled by high prices of food, especially pork, which swelled 0.81 per cent from the previous month.

In addition, the petrol price was up 0.04 per cent compared to June, resulting in a 0.002 per cent rise of the CPI of this good in July.

Meanwhile, the CPI of the health insurance group in July increased 6.67 per cent month-on-month due to the increase of basic salary.

There was an increase in the tuition fees in some provinces and central-level cities under a Government Decree.

The VND/USD exchange rate in July decreased by 0.56 per cent.

During the month, the domestic gold price was around VND3.97 million (US$171.06) per tael, 4.78 per cent higher than the previous month.

The average CPI rose 2.61 per cent on-year between January and July, the lowest growth for a seven-month period over the past three years.

The GSO said core inflation (CPI exclusive of foodstuff, fresh food, energy, healthcare and education service) in July and the first seven months of 2019 increased by 0.23 per cent and 1.89 per cent, respectively, against the same period last year. — VNS