Vietnam Inflation Rate Lowest in 2-½ Years

Vietnam’s annual inflation rate slowed to 2.53% in January 2026, the lowest since July 2023, down from 3.48% in December. Inflation eased across most sub-components, particularly food and foodstuff services (3.64% vs 4.20% in December), driven by a decline in food costs (-1.22%). Price growth also moderated for beverages and cigarettes (1.95% vs 2.05%), garments, hats, and footwear (1.21% vs 1.33%), household equipment and goods (1.71% vs 1.77%), and medicine and healthcare services (0.92% vs 10.27%). Deflation deepened for transport (-3.76% vs -0.55%) and information and communication (-0.28% vs -0.25%). In contrast, inflation picked up for housing, electricity, water, fuel, and construction materials (5.60% vs 5.23%) and education (3.14% vs 3.05%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices inched up 0.05%, following a 0.19% gain in December. The core inflation rate eased to 3.19% from 3.27% in December.