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 in the CPI in May, 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%.
Groups with slight price increases included garments, headwear, and footwear, up 1.91%; and medicine and healthcare services, up 0.99%. Meanwhile, information and communications declined 0.06%.
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.
Regarding gold prices, the Ministry of Finance said domestic gold prices moved in line with global prices. The average global gold price in May stood at 4,619.18 USD per ounce as of May 27, 2026, down 2.40% from April. Global gold prices fell during the month due to profit-taking after a previous strong rally and more stable market sentiment, which reduced demand for safe-haven assets.
Domestically, the gold price index in May decreased 4.11% from the previous month, mainly because gold trading companies adjusted prices down in line with global trends. Compared with the same period last year, the gold price index increased 33.87%; compared with December 2025, it rose 6.27%; and on average in the first five months of 2026, it surged 65.97%.
The Ministry of Finance also said the domestic US dollar price moved in the same direction as global prices. The average international US Dollar Index in May stood at 98.62 points as of May 27, 2026, down slightly by 0.01 point from April.
Domestically, the average US dollar price on the free market hovered around 26,375 VND per USD. The US dollar price index in May rose 0.02% from the previous month due to higher domestic demand for foreign currency; increased 0.78% year on year; fell 0.28% compared with December 2025; and rose 1.99% on average in the first five months of 2026.
