The consumer price index (CPI) in May increased 0.05% against April, the General Statistics Office (GSO) announced on May 29.

The increase was mainly driven by rising prices for pork as a result of the supply shortage after the African swine fever epidemic at the end of 2023, and household electricity due to prolonged hot weather.

In the eleven main commodity groups, seven posted month-on-month increases in prices while three saw declines and one stayed unchanged.

Prices for food and catering services and housing and construction materials recorded the highest growth, of 0.38%.

In the first five months of the year, the CPI rose 4.03% year-on-year.

According to the GSO, core inflation in May surged 0.15% over April and 2.68% year-on-year. Average core inflation in the first five months of the year increased 2.78% year-on-year, lower than the CPI of 4.03%.