Housewives are struggling to spend money on new price levels.

From bowls of pho, plates of rice to essential goods, prices have all increased by 5-10%, causing the spending of many families in Ho Chi Minh City to quietly increase.

Many housewives said their expenses increased every day because the prices of essential goods increased simultaneously - Photo: BE HIEU

Meanwhile, supermarkets and distributors are forced to launch promotions and try to control prices to attract slowing purchasing power.

The shopping cart remains the same but the amount of money spent is more than the reality for many families.

Surprised with the new price level

Sharing with Tuoi Tre , Ms. Tran Thanh Truc, an office worker in Cau Ong Lanh ward, said that the familiar eateries around her workplace, from broken rice to beef noodle soup, hu tieu, chicken pho... almost all increased their prices.

Each portion costs about 5,000 VND more than at the beginning of the year, making office workers' lunches like hers more "expensive" than before.

"Nowadays, if you can find a bowl of noodles or pho for 30,000 - 35,000 VND around the city center, it's like... winning the lottery," Ms. Truc said with a laugh.

Similarly, Ms. Mai Chung (living in Nhieu Loc ward) said she clearly felt the price increase every time she went to the market every day.

"Everything has increased by 5-10%, from dried goods to fresh goods such as meat, fish, vegetables and fruits... The shopping basket remains the same but the amount of money has increased significantly. Before, with 500,000 VND, you could buy everything, but now, after a few minutes, it's all gone," she said.

She shared that to adapt to the new price level, she had to cut back on spending and carefully calculate each item when shopping.

"I prioritize buying seasonal vegetables, choose domestic products to save money, and when I go to the supermarket, I take advantage of promotions," she added.

According to Tuoi Tre , recently many shops in Ho Chi Minh City have been raising prices.

Bay Ho bakery on Huynh Khuong Ninh street (old district 1) adjusted the price from 22,000 to 24,000 VND/loaf from June 1. This is the second price increase of the year for the shop, after the adjustment at the beginning of the year from 20,000 VND/loaf.

At the same time, the Passio coffee chain also announced a price increase from 25,000 to 29,000 VND/cup. The chain said the price increase is to offset the increased cost of raw materials and operating costs, while maintaining quality and improving service.

The owner of a noodle shop in an alley on Le Van Sy Street (old District 3) said that the selling price had to increase according to the cost of input materials.

"Meat, bones, vegetables... everything has increased in price. If we don't increase the price, we will lose money and the quality cannot be guaranteed," said the restaurant owner.

Not only food prices, according to him, electricity and water costs are also creating more pressure on businesses. In the past six months, the average retail electricity price has increased twice, currently reaching 2,050 VND per kWh, about 4.5% higher than the end of last year.

Supermarkets pledge to "lock" price increases

Speaking with Tuoi Tre, a representative of MM Mega Market said that many suppliers of essential consumer products have submitted proposals to increase prices from the beginning of November by 5-10%, including key consumer goods such as rice, sugar, milk, fish sauce, salt, etc.

However, this person said that the above increase, if any, is still within control and many price compensation policies can be used.

"We will use promotional policies to reduce prices somewhat. If necessary, we will renegotiate with suppliers to reduce the increase, or apply other stimulus and promotional programs such as "price lock", price stabilization program, and responsible green tick", he affirmed.

According to this supermarket, two months ago it worked with more than 200 businesses and will soon apply a "price lock" program lasting until Tet to maintain stable prices.

Lotte Mart Vietnam representative also said that due to the impact of African swine fever in the provinces and cities and the extreme weather trend in September, the prices of pork and vegetables tended to increase slightly.

In particular, Da Lat, the capital of a large vegetable supply for the whole country, is being affected by prolonged rain.

"However, we have proactively worked with suppliers to forecast the necessary inventory, enough to supply the entire system," he informed.

According to a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Foodstuff Association, most food and foodstuff enterprises are in the city's price stabilization network, dominating a large market share.

With the price of input materials continuing to increase sharply, it is likely that businesses will increase prices. However, the increase will not be too much.

"There is a possibility of price increases in fast-moving consumer goods because many manufacturers said that raw material prices have increased, and there may be 1 to 2 increases between now and Lunar New Year.

In addition, the impact of storms in the Central and Northern regions also contributed to the possible increase in prices of some goods in the last quarter of the year," a supermarket representative assessed.

The leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade said that the market stabilization program implemented by Ho Chi Minh City this year has increased the quantity and types of goods participating compared to last year.

The supply of many essential goods such as meat, eggs, milk, rice, etc. is quite abundant and participating businesses are committed to trying to keep prices stable before, during and after Tet.

In the coming time, the industry and trade sector will proactively introduce more solutions to stabilize prices and support consumers, such as the "Responsible Green Tick Month" program and large incentive programs with the participation of many supermarkets and shopping centers.

Proactively control prices and stimulate consumption at the end of the year

Mr. Tran Hoang Thao, Deputy General Director of Safoco Foodstuff Joint Stock Company (HCMC), said that purchasing power from the beginning of the year until now has decreased by about 4% compared to the same period last year. The decrease may not be too large, but compared to many consecutive years of growth, this is a signal that needs to be reviewed when market demand decreases, both for export and domestic goods.

According to Mr. Thao, the unit has entered the year-end peak production plan with the view of trying to control prices at the best possible level to pull
purchasing power

Mr. Truong Chi Thien, general director of Vinh Thanh Dat Company (HCMC), said that after a period of sharp increase in egg prices due to sudden increase in demand, prices have now gradually decreased and the possibility of
will soon stabilize again, individual units have also proactively proposed solutions to increase the supply of fresh eggs and processed eggs for the fourth quarter.

"The supply of eggs for the year-end market and the Tet market is unlikely to be in short supply, especially during the market stabilization program, so the selling price will remain stable," Mr. Thien assessed.

NGUYEN TRI - NHAT XUAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ba-noi-tro-co-keo-chi-tieu-voi-mat-bang-gia-moi-20251003225017587.htm