VIENTIANE, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Inflation in Laos increased to 25.6 percent year-on-year in July from 23.6 percent in June, according to the latest report from the Lao Statistics Bureau.
The higher prices of fuel and consumer goods and the continuing depreciation of the Lao currency kip are among the main factors driving the inflation.
Rising oil prices are impacting the transport price index, causing an increase in the price of goods that depend on fuel for their production or transport.
According to the report, costs in the communications and transport category rose by 1.1 percent month-on-month and 53.2 percent year-on-year in July.
Prices in the goods and service category surged by 25.6 percent year on year.
The cost of medical care and medicines increased by 8.7 percent month on month and 30 percent year on year.
The cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 5.2 percent month on month and 21.6 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, the cost of clothing and footwear rose by 0.2 percent month on month and 16.9 percent year on year.
Prices in household goods rose by 1.1 percent month-on-month and 22.4 percent year on year.
The cost of the hotel and restaurant category rose by 0.8 percent month-on-month and 19 percent year-on-year.
The cost of housing, water, electricity and gas category surged by 0.6 percent month on month and 19.7 percent year on year, according to the report. ■
