Ho Chi Minh City’s consumer price index (CPI) in November was estimated to have increased 0.28% compared to October driven by higher food prices.

According to the municipal General Statistics Office, prices of food in November grew by 4.56%, ratcheting up restaurant and beverage costs by 0.81% against last month.

Seven groups of commodities subject to the basket of CPI saw a slight rise against the previous month. Prices of housing, electricity and water and fuel declined 0.36%, post and telecommunications dropped 0.21%, entertainment and leisure fell 0.5%.

The department said that the city’s November CPI surged 16.88% year on year, with restaurant and beverages and transport group posting the highest rise of 24.7% and 20.96% respectively.

Compared to last December, Ho Chi Minh City’s CPI increased by 15.02%.

The city witnessed an average CPI rise between January and November this year of 15.14% against the same period of 2010, particularly for food which increased by 22.92%.