Ho Chi Minh City's consumer price index (CPI) in December increased by 0.12 percent, bringing the yearly indicator to 6.45 percent compared with 8.77 percent last year, according to the local Statistics Department.

The city's annual index is also lower than the country's 2006 CPI average of 6.6 percent. On average, its CPI surged around 0.52 percent per month - a record low since 2004.

The US dollar price index rose just 1.17 percent this year, while the gold price increased up to a 15-year record high of 30.06 percent.

In December, the equipment and home appliances category saw the highest rise of 2.41 percent among 10 surveyed commodities. It was followed by the garments and hats (1.65 percent) and the housing and construction material (0.49 percent).

Three commodities reporting CPI decreases included drink and tobacco (minus 2.21 percent), food and restaurant services (minus 0.4 percent), and transport, post and telecommunication services (minus 0.02 percent).