Purchasing power does not drastically increase in the month approaching Tet to reduce the pressure of inflation this January, often the month of highest inflation each year, Ha Noi Statistics Office has said.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) of Ha Noi in January rose 0.96 per cent over the previous month, a relatively small number compared with around 2 per cent January of two years ago or the rate of nearly 4 per cent of 2008.
The office reported retail sales this month rose nearly 4 per cent over the previous month. Groups of essential goods and services related to Tet increased their prices this month by 1 per cent, a low rate compared to the sharply increased demand, the office said.
The price of rice surged 0.44 per cent, 1.51 per cent for food and 0.68 per cent for catering services. In general, the prices of food and catering services increased 1.17 per cent this month.
The price also increased by 0.94 per cent for beverage and tobacco products, 1.47 per cent for apparel, headwear and footwear and 1.15 per cent for cultural, entertainment and tourism services.
The high demand for home and household appliance maintenance during Tet resulted in an increased price as well. Prices jumped 0.86 per cent for household appliances and 1.53 per cent for building materials.
Ha Noi Agriculture and Rural Development said the supply of vegetables in the days of Tet were plentiful.
During the days approaching Tet, farmers in many areas specialising in growth of vegetables in sub-urban of Ha Noi as Dong Anh, Hoai Duc, Gia Lam and Chuong My harvested vegetable to offer to the market.
The wholesale price of vegetables increased slightly between 2-5 per cent. The price of essential fresh vegetables eaten during Tet remained stable, such as brassica sinensis, brassica juncea, cauliflower and herbs.
For the spring crop this year, Ha Noi farmers are expected to plant vegetables on a total area of nearly 9,000ha with an output of 176,000 tonnes for the market.
