Inflation in the first five months exceeded 4%, and Vietnam's trade deficit reached nearly $14 billion.

TPO - The average consumer price index (CPI) for the first five months of this year increased by 4.31% compared to the same period last year, with core inflation rising by 4.04%. The trade deficit reached nearly $14 billion.

According to data released by the General Statistics Office of the Ministry of Finance , the consumer price index (CPI) in May increased by 0.29% compared to the previous month, by 3.61% compared to the end of 2025, and by 5.6% compared to the same period last year.

Overall, in the first five months of the year, the CPI increased by 4.31% compared to the same period in 2025, while core inflation increased by 4.04%.

The housing, electricity, water, fuel, and building materials group recorded the strongest increase - 0.96%, contributing 0.22 percentage points to the overall CPI increase. Within this group, household electricity prices increased by 2.38%, and household water prices increased by 1.41%.

The transportation group also increased by 0.83% due to a 2.12% rise in gasoline prices, while the culture, entertainment, and tourism group increased by 0.48%. May also coincided with the April 30th - May 1st holiday and marked the beginning of the peak summer travel season.

Package tour prices increased by 1.19%.

Conversely, the food and beverage group decreased by 0.14%, mainly due to lower food prices.

Looking at the first five months of the year, the food and beverage group increased by 4.77%, contributing the largest share to the CPI with 1.71 percentage points. This was followed by the housing, electricity, water, fuel, and construction materials group, which increased by 6.64%, contributing 1.51 percentage points to the overall CPI increase.

Domestic gold prices fluctuate in line with world gold prices. The gold price index in May decreased by 4.11% compared to the previous month, mainly due to gold prices being adjusted downwards by businesses in accordance with world gold prices.

Meanwhile, the USD price index in May increased slightly by 0.02% compared to the previous month. On average over the first five months, the USD price increased by 1.99% compared to the same period in 2025.

Total merchandise import and export turnover in May reached US$99.07 billion, an increase of 25.8% compared to the same period last year. For the first five months of the year, total import and export turnover reached US$445.12 billion, an increase of 25%. Of this, exports reached US$215.66 billion, an increase of 19.5%. The foreign-invested sector continued to play a leading role, accounting for nearly 80% of total export turnover.

The trade balance for goods in May showed a deficit of $5.21 billion. For the first five months of the year, Vietnam recorded a trade deficit of $13.8 billion, compared to a trade surplus of $5.1 billion during the same period last year.

The largest export items included electronics, computers and components, reaching nearly $56.2 billion, an increase of 46.2%; machinery and equipment, reaching nearly $27 billion; and telephones and components, reaching nearly $26.4 billion.

Conversely, imports reached $229.46 billion, an increase of over 30% compared to the same period last year. Notably, imports of electronics, computers, and components totaled $88.2 billion, a 57% increase.

The United States continues to be Vietnam's largest export market with a turnover of $69.6 billion. Meanwhile, China is the largest import market with $92.6 billion.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/lam-phat-5-thang-vuot-4-viet-nam-nhap-sieu-gan-14-ty-usd-post1848511.tpo