Hanoi: Vietnam's consumer prices index (CPI) in March edged up 1.23% from the previous month as surging global fuel costs and higher construction material expenses fed through to domestic prices, the Finance Ministry's National Statistics Office reported on April 4. The March index gained 2.44% from December 2025 and posted a 4.65% year-on-year hike, the highest March reading in five years. For the first quarter as a whole, the CPI climbed 3.51%. Particularly, housing and construction materials jumped 5.69% while food and catering services rose 4.55%, together driving most of the CPI increase.

According to Vietnam News Agency, the rise in CPI during March was influenced by external factors, notably the surging global fuel costs and increased expenses in construction materials. These factors contributed significantly to the domestic price escalation. The report highlighted that the housing and construction materials sector saw a substantial increase, which was a significant contributor to the overall hike in CPI.

Additionally, the food and catering services sector also experienced a notable rise, further impacting the overall consumer prices. The 4.65% year-on-year increase for March marks it as the highest March reading in the past five years, indicating significant inflationary pressures on the economy. The overall 3.51% rise in CPI for the first quarter reflects the compounded effect of these price increases across various sectors.