Residents shop at Aeon Long Bien supermarket, Hanoi. Photo: Tran Viet/VNA

The GSO cited multiple reasons for the CPI increase including gas prices up 49.75% against last year. As the COVID-19 epidemic has been controlled, the demand for eating out rose, triggering the average price of meals served in eateries in 7 months to pick up 3.81%, according to the GSO. The price of housing maintenance materials in 7 months increased 7.84% over the same period last year due to the increase in the price of cement, iron, steel and sand in line with the price of input materials.

In the face of rising inflationary pressure, the Government has directed uniform solutions to stabilize prices and limit the negative impact on socio-economic development.