Ha Noi, May 21 (VNA) -- Economists say that the downward trend of Viet Nam's consumer price index which has been happening for a number of years now, especially in the first four months of this year, has mainly stemmed from the slow-down of food and foodstuff consumption.
"Food prices have dropped by 19.4 percent in the last 28 months and 3.7 percent in the first four months of 2001, while the price index of other commodities has remained mostly stable, fluctuating around one percent," says Associate Prof. Dr Ngo Tri Long.