Vietnam says inflation at 3.27% in early 2025

HANOI: Vietnam’s consumer price index increased by 3.27% in the first two months of 2025 from the same period in 2024, and industrial production climbed by 7%, the government said on Wednesday (March 5), a day ahead of the scheduled release of the data.

Figures published on the government’s website showed the trade surplus for the two-month period came in at US$1.47 billion, with exports rising by an annual 8.4% and imports up 15.9%.

Foreign investment inflows rose by an annual 5.4% in January-February to around $3 billion, the government said.

Combining data for the two months can smooth out distortions from the timing of Lunar New Year holidays, which fell in January this year and February last year.

“There remain some issues that need to be dealt with, including the rice market, fiscal and monetary policy, and tax policies to support businesses,” the government portal cited the prime minister as saying.

The figures were released via the government’s portal a day ahead of the scheduled release of February data for various macroeconomic indicators by the statistics office.

The data may be subject to revisions in the official release.

Last month, the government revised up its gross domestic product growth target for 2025 to at least 8.0% from 6.5%-7.0%, despite escalating global trade disputes, including the risk of potential duties from the United States. – Reuters