VIENTIANE, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Laos recorded an inflation rate of 26.2 percent in June, a slight increase from 25.8 percent in May, according to the latest report from the Lao Statistics Bureau.
According to a report released by the bureau on Friday, the highest price rise in June was recorded in the medical care and medicines category, which stood at 41.72 percent year-on-year.
Other categories driving inflation included the hotel and restaurant category at 35.30 percent, the clothing and footwear category at 29.50 percent, and the alcohol and tobacco category at 28.77 percent.
Several factors have put pressures on the inflation, such as the continuing depreciation of the local currency, heavy reliance on imports for domestic consumption, and a recent increase in the value-added tax (VAT) rate from seven percent to 10 percent, according to the report. ■