Declines in food prices are a major factor for a CPI drop in May (Photo: VNA)

Price declines were recorded in the four remaining groups including food and catering services, transport services, postal and telecommunications, and housing and construction materials. Other groups of main commodities and services saw slight price increases, namely culture, entertainment and tourism, household goods, beverages and cigarettes, clothing, health care services, and education.  

The General Statistics Office said the five-month core inflation rose by 1.56 percent from a year earlier, lower than the planned inflation of 1.6 – 1.8 percent, indicating a stable monetary policy.