Consumers in Nghe An tighten their belts during 'price storm'

From fresh food to fast-moving consumer goods, prices have been steadily rising in recent months. This has not only forced Nghe An consumers to change their shopping habits but also put small traders and retailers in a difficult position...

In recent months, pork prices have increased continuously, 30-40% higher than the same period last year. Photo: TP

“In the past, my family used to eat spare ribs at least three times a week, but now we only dare to buy them once, and even switch to eating tofu or chicken to save money,” said Ms. Hoang Thuy Quynh, a civil servant living in Vinh city. According to her, the price of spare ribs increased from about 135,000-140,000 VND to 180,000-200,000 VND per kilogram, an unbelievable fluctuation in the past year.

Surveys at many traditional markets show that pork is the group of products with the strongest increase, with prices currently ranging from 130,000 to 220,000 VND/kg depending on the type, 30-40% higher than the same period last year.

Pork prices have increased for many reasons, including the impact of the resurgence of African swine fever, a shortage of market supply, and increased farming costs. Photo: TP

Beef is also not out of the trend, currently priced from 200,000 to 280,000 VND/kg, while seafood such as mackerel, shrimp, and squid have also increased by an average of 16-20%.

Not only fresh food, fast-moving consumer goods and other essential items such as powdered milk, cooking oil, fish sauce, coffee, sugar... have also simultaneously established new price levels. A carton of 180ml liquid powdered milk used to cost 750,000 VND, but now it has reached 830,000 VND. Bien Hoa sugar price has increased by 2,000 VND/kg; fish sauce has increased by 6,000 - 7,000 VND/bottle; Nescafé Viet 560g coffee has increased by 10,000 VND/package...

Prices of aquatic and seafood products have also increased sharply. Photo: TP

Households’ monthly expenses are also affected. Ms. Lan (residing in Hung Loc ward, Vinh city) said that food alone causes total expenses to increase by 10-15% each month.

Meanwhile, for retail stores, the problem of retaining customers amid the price storm is even more difficult. “Previously, each price adjustment usually occurred at the end of the year, but this year, new prices have had to be updated continuously from the beginning of the year. There are items such as milk, cooking oil, pepper... that have different prices each time they are imported,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, owner of a grocery store on Phan Dang Luu Street (Vinh City). According to her, the increase of 5-10% for most items has caused profit margins to increasingly narrow, while purchasing power has decreased by up to 30%.

Rising input costs are forcing restaurants and bars to struggle to avoid losses. Illustration photo: TP

At some restaurants, the increase in raw material costs has caused the price of each serving to be adjusted by VND5,000. However, there are also many restaurants that choose to keep the price by reducing some of the ingredients, such as the special way of Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang and her husband, owners of a breakfast restaurant on Highway 46, Hung Chinh Commune (Vinh City).

For the past 5 years, the price of eel porridge and eel soup at the restaurant has remained at 30,000 VND/bowl, with a commitment to “never increase the price” hanging right in the middle of the restaurant. “If the price of ingredients increases, we will reduce the price by one eel. I tell customers clearly, everyone understands and sympathizes. Workers go to work for breakfast, 40,000 VND/bowl is something to consider,” said Ms. Hang.

Many restaurants have solutions to reduce ingredients to not increase prices. Photo: TP

However, not everyone can cope like Ms. Hang’s restaurant. A sandwich chain in Vinh has also had to raise the price of each loaf from 15,000 VND to 18,000-20,000 VND. The store employee shared: “Everything from packaging, flour to vegetables has increased. If we don’t increase the price, the more we sell, the more we lose.”

In the modern distribution channel, supermarkets are at the forefront of price stabilization efforts. Mr. Tran An Khang, Director of GO! Vinh supermarket said: “Suppliers are constantly proposing to increase prices by 5-10% due to input costs. However, the supermarket system is trying to stabilize prices for 9 essential product groups under the market stabilization program.”

Currently, supermarkets are applying price stabilization programs for essential goods. Photo: TP

According to the Nghe An Statistical Office, total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue in May 2025 reached more than VND 14,628 billion, up 11.56% over the same period last year. Although growth was maintained, the consumer price index (CPI) in May also increased by 0.18% over the previous month and increased by 2.06% over the same period in 2024. Of which, the food and catering services group increased by 2.92%; the housing, electricity, water and construction materials group increased by 3.51%.

Factors such as the 4.8% increase in electricity prices since May, hot weather, rising food and fuel prices... have contributed to pushing up the CPI.

Essential goods are about to increase in price, many brands have announced new price levels from July 1. Photo: TP

This situation requires close coordination between manufacturers, distribution channels and management agencies to curb price increases, ensure market stability, and reduce the cost burden on consumers.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/nguoi-tieu-dung-o-nghe-an-that-lung-buoc-bung-thoi-bao-gia-10300635.html