Vietnam’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.29 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2023, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

It was attributed to higher education-related prices, which rose 7.95 per cent year-on-year. The 6.6 per cent increase in the price of housing and construction materials also contributed.

The 3 per cent increase in electricity prices from May 4 pushed prices for everyday products by 3.12 per cent, contributing 0.1 percentage point to the CPI rise in the first half.

The CPI in June alone rose 0.27 per cent compared to May.

It increased 2.41 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter, with a strong rise in the price of construction materials of 6.03 per cent and education of 5.81 per cent.

Figures from the GSO show that core inflation in June increased 0.24 per cent compared to the previous month and 4.33 per cent year-on-year, pushing the inflation rate in the first half to 4.74 per cent.