Vietnam’s consumer price index (CPI) in January increased by 0.32% against December 2008’s figure. The slight rise bucked the recent trend whereby the CPI fell for three consecutive months, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Nine out of ten commodity groups experienced price increases from 0.07 to 1.93%, while transport and telecommunications services were the only group to post a decrease, of 3.51%, due to decreases in the prices of petroleum and telecommunication charges.

Home appliances and services experienced the highest jump at 1.93%, followed by drinks and cigarettes with 1.89%; sports and entertainment, which rose by 1.66 percent; garments, headwear and footwear at 1.46%; and food and restaurant services, which increased by 0.39%.

The GSO attributed the higher costs of home appliances, drinks, cigarettes and garments to increasing customer demand, as people the length and breadth of Vietnam eagerly prepare for the Lunar New Year Festival (Tet), which falls on Jan. 26 this year.

However, the office said that the slight increase in the cost of food and restaurant services is a result of local authorities’ efforts to assist major businesses in stocking up on goods a month ago.

The prices of both gold and the US dollar rose sharply during January, with the price of gold price increasing by 3.64% and the USD/VND exchange rate leaping by 1.48%. (VNA)