The consumer price index (CPI) for May showed continued growth inHanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, reported the cities' statistics offices.

TheHanoi Statistics Office announced on May 21 that the capital city's CPIshowed a month-on-month increase of 0.12 percent over April and ayear-on-year surge of 0.93 percent.

The office said the increasewas mainly due to a surge in petrol price since May 5 that pushed manycommodity prices up, especially transport items, which jumped 1.06percent since last month.

Housing, electricity, tap water, fueland building materials jumped 1.44 percent in the last month because ofthe rising price and demand for electricity and tap water in the summer,the office said.

Other goods also showed growth - 0.47 percentfor drink and tobacco; 0.3 percent for garments, hat and footwear; and0.28 percent for cultural, entertainment and tourism services.

Only restaurant and catering services had a price reduction, which was 0.43 percent compared to April.

In contrast to the CPI, the price of gold in Hanoi continued itsdecline by 0.13 percent in the last month and the price of the US dollarwent up 0.44 percent against last month.

The HCM City Statistics Office said the city's CPI only had a slight increase of 0.3 percent over April.

Goodswith price growth included garments, hat and footwear up 0.1 percent;home appliances up 0.02 percent; transport services up 1.05 percent; andcultural, entertainment and tourism services up 0.07 percent.

Housing,electricity, tap water and fuel jumped 2.18 percent against last monthbecause of the new electricity rates and increase in demand due to thehot summer weather.

Some goods items reduced in price. LikeHanoi, restaurant and catering services went down 0.06 percent. Postaland telecom services declined 0.02 percent, and the other-goods andservices group fell 0.04 percent.

Of note, rice continued its reduction by 0.13 percent and general food products went down 0.13 percent.

In HCM City, the price of gold also dropped 0.4 percent.-VNA