The General Statistics Office (GSO) reported that the consumer price index (CPI) in December 2019 increased by 1.4 percent over the month before. This was the month with the highest CPI growth rate in the last nine years.

The pork prices in 2019 (Source GSO)

The average inflation rate of the whole year 2019 was 2.79 percent, much lower than the targeted level of 4 percent. However, the December’s year-on-year (YoY) inflation rate was very high, 5.23 percent. When analyzing macroeconomic indicators and the monetary markets, economists usually use YoY figures.

Prior to that, the YoY CPI exceeded the 5 percent threshold in January 2017.

The sharp CPI increase in the last month of 2019 warned that the index may continue rising in the upcoming months. The sharp rise in pork price was the major reason behind the CPI increase in the last three months (0.59 percent in October, 0.96 percent in November and 1.4 percent in December).

The sharp rise in pork price was the major reason behind the CPI increase in the last three months (0.59 percent in October, 0.96 percent in November and 1.4 percent in December).

Meanwhile, the demand for pork is believed to continue rising, especially in January 2020, when Vietnamese have Tet holiday and festival season.

Analysts believe that the food price will be increasing in 1-2 months and then decreasing gradually in the second and third quarters of 2020. However, they pointed out that there are many other factors that may push the CPI up.

First, the prices of petroleum products and other commodities are believed to increase all over the globe. As the US-China trade war has shown signs of cooling down, analysts believe that the global trade and economy will warm up.

Therefore, the demand for input materials for production will be increasing, especially the demand for petroleum and other kinds of materials such as steel and cement.

Meanwhile, 2020 is the year when drought and heat will reach a peak as El-Nino has come back to Vietnam. If so, agricultural activities will face difficulties. Many areas in the north and south may not have water to serve agricultural production. Therefore, food and foodstuff prices may increase, especially rice.

Second, expectations about inflation. This was the factor that had the largest impact on inflation in the past. People tend to push the prices of goods and services up to new price levels. If so, the inflation rate may escalate.

Third, analysts see the high possibility of adjusting the prices of healthcare and education services, and electricity and water. If the prices of these essential goods and services increase, the prices of other goods will also be increasing.

Lan Ha 

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