The story of a 1 million VND bowl of pho, Deputy Prime Minister requested transparency and strict handling of price violations

On the afternoon of February 6, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc, head of the Steering Committee for Price Management, chaired a meeting to evaluate price management and operation work in 2024 and orientation for 2025.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc - Photo: VGP

According to Deputy Minister of Finance Le Tan Can, price management is expected to face a number of challenges and pressures from the market, prices of essential goods and services, and a number of other factors.

Select the inflation scenario of 4.15% increase

Accordingly, three scenarios are proposed: Average CPI in 2025 will increase by about 3.83% compared to 2024; increase by about 4.15% and increase by 4.5%. Price management needs to be carried out cautiously, flexibly and proactively, focusing on removing difficulties for production and business, and stabilizing price levels.

Many ministries and sectors believe that 2025 still has many unpredictable factors that could affect price management and operation. Therefore, it is necessary to closely monitor the situation and prepare scenarios to respond effectively, especially to issues related to essential goods and services.

In conclusion, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc said that the GDP growth target for 2025 must reach at least 8%. Therefore, the amount of money to be supplied to the economy will be much larger than in 2024, the growth momentum will be stimulated, which will affect the price index, especially consumer prices.

Of the three inflation scenarios for 2025 proposed by the Ministry of Finance, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested choosing the second scenario (average CPI in 2025 increases by about 4.15% compared to 2024) to drastically deploy implementation solutions.

In particular, it is necessary to immediately and seriously implement the Law on Prices to maintain a healthy competitive environment, avoiding price manipulation, appropriation, and price hikes.

"It is necessary to list and sell at the listed price," Mr. Phoc said, emphasizing that this is important when citing the story of a bowl of pho costing up to 1 million VND, or cases of business licenses being revoked due to sales violations, with the requirement to be taken seriously.

Publicly and transparently disclose prices and strictly handle violations.

According to him, the problem is not whether it is expensive or cheap, but rather the price must be transparent so that customers can choose and there must be healthy competition. Sellers must not take advantage of customers to get money.

At the same time, it is necessary to closely monitor market developments, especially the prices of strategic and essential goods, to have flexible scenarios and solutions. On that basis, it is necessary to strictly manage, proactively, and diversify supply sources, to avoid disruption of the supply chain, especially for gasoline, oil, and electricity.

For goods managed by the State, ministries and branches, according to their assigned functions and tasks, proactively develop price management measures according to the market roadmap at appropriate levels and times.

Continue to effectively implement solutions to link production with distribution and consumption, creating a transit circle; coordinate monetary policy with fiscal policy in a reasonable and rhythmic manner to promote growth.

Strengthen inspection, examination and market supervision according to the law to have timely and effective management measures, to avoid shortages and disruptions in goods sources causing sudden price increases.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chuyen-bat-pho-1-trieu-dong-pho-thu-tuong-yeu-cau-minh-bach-xu-nghiem-vi-pham-gia-20250206203000959.htm