Vietnam’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) in May jumped 0.29% from the previous month, driven by increases in electricity and water prices amid higher demand during hot weather, as well as higher prices of construction materials, housing rents and petrol, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The CPI in May increased 3.61% compared with December 2025 and 5.6% year on year.

Of the 0.29% month-on-month increase,  10 groups of goods and services recorded price rises, while only the food and catering services group saw a decline.

In the first five months of 2026, the CPI rose 4.31% compared with the same period in 2025. Housing, electricity, water, fuel, and construction materials posted the highest increase, at 6.64%. Other groups also recorded notable rises, including transport, up 5.22%; food and catering services, up 4.77%; other goods and services, up 3.96%; beverages and tobacco, up 3.38%; and education, up 3.28%.

Core inflation in May rose 0.34% from the previous month and 4.67% year on year. In the first five months of 2026, core inflation increased 4.04% compared with the same period last year, lower than the 4.31% average CPI rise. This was because strong fluctuations in petrol, oil, gas, and food prices pushed up the overall CPI, while these factors are excluded from the core inflation calculation.