VINACHEM

However, the rise was the lowest this year, the office said, adding that the price of seven out of 11 commodities used to calculate the CPI witnessed an increase in September.

Most of those goods that went up in price rose by less than 1 per cent, with the remainder rising by more than 1 per cent – including gold.

Meanwhile, restaurant prices dipped by 0.02 per cent. The price of food dropped by 0.34 per cent (rice fell by 0.26 per cent), after several consecutive monthly rises, but the cost of catering went up 1.02 per cent.

The price of rice was stable because supplies in the north met demand this month.

In the first nine months, the CPI in Ha Noi rose year-on-year by 17.76 per cent because of the rising cost of goods and services this year, said the office. However, the CPI growth rate has slowed since June.

To control price rises and ensure social security, Ha Noi authorities have provided loans worth VND475 billion (US$22.8 million) to stabilise the cost of essential goods. — VNS