The data, released on April 4, showed that price movements in essential goods and services continued to trend upward, shaping the overall price level of the economy.

In March alone, CPI increased by 1.23% month on month, up 2.44% compared to December 2025 and 4.65% year on year, marking the highest March increase in the past five years. Core inflation in the first quarter rose by 3.63%.

Among the 11 major goods and services groups, nine recorded price increases in March, while two declined.

Transport saw the sharpest rise, up 12.85%, contributing 1.28% to overall CPI growth. The increase was mainly driven by surging fuel prices, with petrol up 29.72% and diesel soaring 57.03% amid higher global energy prices.

Rising fuel costs also pushed up transportation services, with airfares increasing by 23.19%, rail fares by 13.92%, and waterway transport by 6.51%.

The housing, electricity, water, fuel and construction materials group rose by 0.77%. Kerosene prices surged by 62.35%, gas prices increased by 5.56%, while housing maintenance materials edged up by 1.58%.

Healthcare costs also increased by 0.38%, reflecting higher import costs and adjustments in medical service pricing.

Other categories posting modest gains included beverages and tobacco (0.37%), household equipment (0.33%), telecommunications (0.18%), and education (0.10%).

In contrast, food and catering services declined by 0.59%, with food prices dropping 1.41%, helping to partially offset overall inflationary pressure.

The culture, entertainment and tourism group also edged down by 0.05% as demand softened following the Lunar New Year holiday.

For the first quarter as a whole, CPI growth was largely driven by housing and construction materials (up 5.69%) and food and catering services (up 4.55%), including a 7.14% increase in pork prices. Education costs rose by 3.21% due to tuition adjustments at some private institutions.

Meanwhile, telecommunications prices declined by 0.20%, supported by ample supply of technology products.

Meanwhile, domestic gold prices in March rose by 1.54% month on month and surged 82.77% year on year.

The Vietnamese dong weakened slightly against the US dollar, with the domestic US$ price rising 0.72% compared to the previous month and 2.58% on average in the first quarter, in line with the global strengthening of the US dollar.

PM orders stronger energy security, no power or fuel shortages

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered stronger measures to ensure national energy security, stressing that Vietnam must guarantee sufficient supplies of oil, gas and electricity for both immediate and long-term needs.