CPI increases by 4.38% in the first half of 2026
According to data from the Statistics Office (Ministry of Finance), on average in the first 6 months of 2026, CPI increased by 4.38% compared to the same period last year. Core inflation increased by 4.12% compared to the same period last year, lower than the 4.38% increase of the general average CPI.
Analyzing the reasons, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong - Director of the Statistics Department (Ministry of Finance) said that mainly due to strong fluctuations in gasoline, oil, gas and food prices, the general CPI increased but belonged to the group of goods excluded from the basic inflation calculation list.
Developments in the financial and monetary markets also had many fluctuations in the first 6 months of the year. The average world gold price in June (as of June 25, 2026) was at 4,284 USD/ounce, down 7.05% compared to May. World gold prices decreased mainly due to the rising USD, expectations that the US Federal Reserve (FED) will continue to maintain tight monetary policy and the demand to hold safe-haven assets decreased.
Domestically, the gold price index in June decreased by 8.46% compared to May; increased by 24.11% compared to the same period last year; decreased by 2.72% compared to December 2025; average Q2/2026 increased by 36.84% compared to the same period last year; average of the first 6 months of 2026 increased by 58.12% compared to the same period last year.
Besides the gold market, the domestic USD exchange rate also fluctuates in the same direction as the world price. The average USD price index on the international market in June (as of June 25, 2026) reached 100.05 points, up 1.42 points compared to May because the market expects the FED to continue to maintain monetary tightening policy, in the context of the US economy maintaining growth and high interest rates, thereby increasing the demand to hold the USD.
Domestically, the USD price index in June increased by 0.11% compared to the previous month; increased by 0.57% compared to the same period last year; decreased by 0.17% compared to December 2025; average Q2/2026 increased by 0.93% compared to the same period last year; average of the first 6 months of 2026 increased by 1.75%.
Average income of workers reaches 9 million VND/month
In the context of the macroeconomy continuing to be maintained stable, the labor market also recorded many positive signals, reflecting the recovery of production and business activities and recruitment demand.
According to the Statistics Office, in the first 6 months of 2026, the labor market developed stably. The scale of the labor force, the number of people with jobs and the average income of workers all increased compared to the same period last year, reflecting the demand for labor and production and business activities continuing to improve.
The unemployment rate remains at 2.22%; the unemployment rate in the working age group is 1.65%, lower than the same period last year, showing that the labor market continues to have positive changes.
In general, in the first 6 months of 2026, the number of employed workers reached 52.6 million people, an increase of 672.5 thousand people compared to the same period last year. In general, in the first 6 months of 2026, the number of unemployed people of working age is 773.3 thousand people, a decrease of 24.9 thousand people compared to the same period last year.
The average income of workers in the first 6 months of 2026 reached 9 million VND/month, an increase of 717 thousand VND compared to the same period last year. In which, the average income of male workers is 10.1 million VND/month; female workers is 7.8 million VND; workers in urban areas are 10.6 million VND/month; rural workers are 7.9 million VND/month.
In the second quarter of 2026, the unemployment rate in the working age is 2.23%, almost unchanged compared to the previous quarter and the same period last year. The unemployment rate in urban areas is 2.49%, continuing to be below 3%, lower than the target level set out in Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP dated January 8, 2026 of the Government on key tasks and solutions to implement the socio-economic development plan and state budget estimates for 2026. This reflects that the labor market in urban areas continues to be maintained stably.
In general, in the first 6 months of 2026, the unemployment rate in the working age group is 2.22%, equivalent to the same period last year, of which urban areas are 2.47%, and rural areas are 2.05%.
