The consumer price index (CPI) of Vietnam increased 3.52 percent on-year in the first eight months of 2018, the General Statistics Office announced on Wednesday.

In August alone, CPI went up 0.45 percent against July, and climbed up 3.98 percent against last August.

The higher index in August was contributed by increased prices of 10 out of 11 items in the CPI calculation basket, notably food and foodstuff (up 0.7 percent), education (up 0.46 percent) and housing and construction materials (up 0.44 percent).

In the eight-month period, telecommunications charge was the only item witnessing an on-year decrease of 0.58 percent.

Vietnam has targeted CPI of no more than 4 percent this year. Last year, its CPI rose 3.53 percent against 2016, far below the target of 4 percent.