November Consumer Price Index (CPI) Sees 3.45% Increase

The General Statistics Office (GSO) reported an increase of 0.25% in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for November compared to the previous month, marking a 3.45% rise from the same period last year. The uptick in CPI is attributed to certain localities adjusting healthcare service and tuition fees in accordance with regulations. Additionally, domestic rice prices saw a surge due to an uptick in the export price of the commodity.

In comparison to October, eight out of the 11 essential goods and services groups witnessed price hikes, two experienced decreases, and the equipment and household items group remained unchanged.

Over the first 11 months, the CPI grew by 3.22% on a yearly basis, with the core inflation rate seeing a 4.27% increase. Notably, January recorded the highest CPI increase at 4.89%, followed by a gradual decrease until June, where an increase of only 2% was noted.

Contributing factors to the overall CPI rise from January to November include an 87.29% annual increase in the average airfare index, driven by airline costs and heightened travel demand, particularly during holidays and summer vacations. Train and bus ticket prices also rose by 29.67% and 7.43%, respectively. Meanwhile, the education, food, and household electricity price indices witnessed increases of 7.35%, 6.67%, and 4.55%, respectively.

Conversely, a significant factor mitigating the CPI over the 11-month period was a 12.12% decrease in the price index of petroleum products.