Photo for illustration. (Source: baochinhphu.vn)

Average CPI in the first quarter of 2021 increased by 0.29%, the lowest rate of the first quarter over the past 20 years, while core inflation during the period rose 0.67%.

The shopping demand after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday and decrease in food prices due to abundant supplies were the main causes lowering the consumer price index (CPI) in March by 0.27% from the previous month, reported General Statistics Office (GSO).

GSO reported that the first quarter’s CPI increase was due to the rice price which surged 8.55% year-on-year from January-March as a result of rising global price and high demand for premium rice during the Tet holiday.

Among 11 commodities and service groups, the prices of several main groups moved upward, pushing up the costs of catering services by 2.08% year-on-year.

The cost of education services rose 4.49% due to the latest raise in school fees under a roadmap set in Decree 86/2015/ND-CP dated October 2, 2015.

Among the four groups witnessing price increase, the transportation group had the highest rise compared to the previous month, of 2.29%, due to the impact of the adjustment of gasoline and oil prices on February 25, March 12 and March 27.

The housing and construction materials group soared by 0.24% due to the increase in raw material and fuel input prices, leading to an increase in the price of construction materials./.

BTA