CPI in December 2019 witnessed a growth of 1.4% compared to the previous month – the highest growth rate for December in the last nine years, of which food and catering services hit the highest increase of 3.42% due to African swine fever leading the decrease in the supply of pork, the increase in the prices of processed pork products and products substituting for pork. Generally for the fourth quarter of 2019, CPI grew by 2.01% from the previous quarter and by 3.66% over the fourth quarter of 2018. The average CPI for 2019 went up by 2.79% compared to that for 2018, below the goal set by the National Assembly, which is also the lowest annual average increase in the past 3 years.

Domestic gold prices fluctuated according to world gold prices. Gold price index in December 2019 decreased by 0.36% against the previous month, climbed by 16.23% from December 2018, and average gold price index in 2019 grew by 7.55% over 2018. The US dollar price index in December 2019 fell by 0.19% over the previous month, by 0.77% against December 2018; average US dollar price index in 2019 expanded by 0.99% compared to that in 2018.

PPI for agriculture, forestry and fishery in the fourth quarter of 2019 increased by 3.91% against the previous quarter and by 1.89% against the same period last year; similarly, PPI for industry dropped by 0.07% and went up by 0.52%; PPI for services moved up by 0.31% and by 2.8%. Generally for the whole year 2019, PPI for agriculture, forestry and fishery witnessed a rise of 1.31% compared to that in 2018, PPI for industry gained an 1.25% increase, PPI for services grew by 2.94%.

In the fourth quarter of this year, merchandize export price index moved up by 0.28% from the previous quarter and by 3.98% over the same period last year; similarly, merchandize import price index moved down by 0.09% and climbed by 0.05% against the similar period last year. Generally for the whole year 2019, merchandize export price index saw a rise of 3.01% from 2018, merchandize import price index up by 0.59%.
T.Huong