Vietnam is expected to see consumer price index (CPI) of 3 percent in the first quarter of next year, compared with 3.7 percent in the same period this year, according to local newspaper Vietnam Economic Times on Monday.

Because many products in the domestic market are vulnerable to changes in the world market, especially those in prices of Vietnam 's key imports, including petroleum products, fertilizers and steel,the country will not set a CPI target for 2006, said local trade experts.

Vietnam, which has targeted CPI of below 6.5 percent in 2005, is estimated to face the index of 8.4 percent in the year.

CPI is an index of prices used to measure the change in the cost of 10 basic goods and services in Vietnam in comparison with a fixed base period.

Source: Xinhua