VIENTIANE, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Laos recorded an inflation rate of 25.24 percent in November, a slight decrease from 25.8 percent in October, according to the latest report from the Lao Statistics Bureau.
The weak kip is seen as one of the main factors driving inflation, according to a report released by the Lao Statistics Bureau on Monday.
The highest price rise in November was recorded in the hotel and restaurant category, which stood at 35.2 percent year-on-year. The prices of cooked food such as grilled fish, spicy meat salad and noodle soup, as well as the cost of beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages drove prices in this category.
Other categories driving inflation included the clothing and footwear category at 31.8 percent year-on-year, medical care and medicines at 26.5 percent, the food and non-alcoholic beverage category at 26.4 percent, the household goods category at 25.3 percent, the alcohol and tobacco category at 24.5 percent, and the communications and transport category at 22.1 percent.
The cost of goods and services has tended to rise more slowly in recent months after inflation hit its peak at 41.26 percent in February.
One of the most positive aspects is that Laos registered a trade surplus of more than 943 million U.S. dollars in the first nine months of 2023, with exports reaching more than 5.95 billion U.S. dollars and imports valued at 5.01 billion U.S. dollars, according to the report.
At a cabinet meeting last week, the Lao government vowed to ensure that exports are paid for through the banking system in Laos so that more foreign currency enters the Southeast Asian country.
The government is attempting to stabilize exchange rates, modernize the revenue collection system to increase the national income, and boost exports while restricting the import of luxury items. ■
