SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN 3RD QUARTER AND 9 MONTHS OF 2018

1.  Gross Domestic Products (GDP) Growth

GDP in the third quarter of 2018 was estimated to increase by 6.88% over the same period last year, although lower than the increase of 7.45% in the first quarter but higher than the increase of 6.73% in the second quarter[1] , showing that the economy still retains its growth momentum.  In the increase rate of the whole economy, the sector of agriculture, forestry and fishery grew by 3.46%; the sector of industry and construction grew by 8.61%; the service sector expanded by 6.87%. The growth in the third quarter of 2018 was lower than the growth in the third quarter of 2017, but higher than the growth in the third quarter of years 2011-2016[2].

In terms of GDP use in the third quarter of 2018, final consumption increased by 7.02% from the same period last year; accumulated assets grew by 8.61%; export of goods and services jumped up by 15.13%; import of goods and services climbed by 14.76%.

Generally, in nine months of 2018, GDP was estimated to increase by 6.98% compared with the same period last year, this is the highest growth of nine months since 2011[3]. Of the growth of the whole economy, the sector of agriculture, forestry and fishery increased by 3.65%, contributed 8.8% to the general growth; the sector of industry and construction went up by 8.89%, contributed 48.7%; the service sector grew by 6.89%, contributed 42.5%.

In nine months of this year, the sector of agriculture, forestry and fishery gained the highest growth in the period 2012-2018. In particular, the agriculture continued to confirm the clear trend of recovery with the increase of 2.78%, the highest increase of nine months in the period 2012-2018, contributed 0.36 percentage point to the growth rate of the total added value of the whole economy; the fishery achieved a good result with an increase of 6.37%, also the highest growth rate in the past eight years[4], contributing 0.22 percentage point; the forestry jumped up by 5.9%, but low propotion, contributed only 0.04 percentage point.

In the sector of industry and construction, the industry maintained the fairly good growth with an 8.98% rise in nine months, contributed 2.91 percentage points to the growth rate of the total added value of the whole economy. The manufacturing continued to be a highlight of this sector and main driver of economic growth with a high increase of 12.65%, lower than the increase of the same period in 2017, but much higher than the growth of nine months of years 2012-2016[5], contributed 2.56 percentage points. The mining and quarrying still received a negative growth (down 1.97%), reduced 0.14 percentage point of the growth rate of the total added value of the whole economy, however, the reduction rate narrowed considerably compared with the decrease of 8.08% in the same period last year. The construction in nine months maintained a relatively high growth rate of 8.46%, contributing 0.55 percentage point.

The service sector increased by 6.89% in nine months of this year, lower than the 7.21% increase of nine months last year, but higher than the growth of the same period in years 2012-2016[6]. In the service sector, the contribution of a number of industries with a large share to the overall growth rate in nine months was as follows: Wholesale and retail sales increased by 8.48% over the same period last year, this was the industry with the highest growth rate in the service sector with the largest contribution to the growth rate of the total added value of the entire economy (0.9 percentage point); Financial, banking and insurance activities raised by 7.85%, contributed 0.46 percentage point; Accommodation and catering service grew by 5.89%, contributed 0.27 percentage point; Transportation and storage climbed by 7.55%, contributed 0.25 percentage point; Real estate business moved up by 4.04%, contributed 0.24 percentage point.

About economic structure in nine months of 2018, the sector of agriculture, forestry and fishery made up 13.93% of GDP; the sector of industry and construction accounted for 33.49%; the service sector represented 42.54%; the taxes less subsidies on production took 10.04% (the corresponding structure in the same period in 2017 was 14.67%; 32.50%; 42.65%; and 10.18%).

In terms of GDP use in nine months of 2018, final consumption put up by 7.09% from the similar period in 2017; accumulated assets grew by 7.71%; export of goods and services increased by 15.52%; import of goods and services went up by 14.22%.

+ Gross Domestic Products at current prices
+ Gross Domestic Products at constant 2010 prices

2. Production of agriculture, forestry and fishery

a) Agriculture

The production of agriculture in nine months of 2018 developed stably and had a good growth rate. According to local reports, although the whole country’s winter-spring rice area decreased by 15 thousand ha compared with the last same crop, but with the productivity of 6640 kilograms per ha (kg/ha) (an increase of 410 kg/ha), the yield of the entire crop still reached 20.6 million tons, a rise of 1187.2 thousand tons over the same crop in 2017.

As of mid-September, the cultivated winter rice area gained 1621.6 thousand ha, equaling 98% of the cultivated area in the similar period last year, of which provinces in the North finished the cultivation with the area of 1105.6 thousand ha, equaling 97.5%; provinces in the South reached 516 thousand ha, equaling 98.9%. Up to now, early winter rice in the North was ready for harvest, and nearly 115 thousand ha were harvested. The whole crop’s productivity was estimated at 4900 kg/ha, up 300 kg/ha from the same period last year.

For the summer-autumn crop this year, the whole country cultivated 2052.8 thousand ha, a decline of 13.7 thousand ha compared with the same crop last year. As of September 15, 2018, localities harvested 1806.9 thousand ha of summer-autumn rice, accounting for 88% of the cultivated area and equaling 107.8% of the harvested area in the same period last year. According to local reports, the whole country’s summer-autumn rice productivity this year was estimated at 5440 kg/ha, a rise of 10kg/ha from the same crop in 2017; due to the reduction in the cultivation area, the yield reached nearly 11.2 million tons, a decrease of 47.7 thousand tons.

As of mid-September, the Mekong Delta cultivated 628.7 thousand ha of autumn-winter rice, equaling 89.1% of the cultivated area in the identical period last year.

As of mid-September, the whole country cultivated 1025.7 thousand ha of maize, equaling 96.5% of the cultivated area in the same period last year; 111.7 thousand ha of sweet potato, equaling 99.6%; 181.3 thousand ha of peanut, equaling 98%; 54 thousand ha of soya, equaling 80.2%; 1005.8 thousand ha of vegetables, equaling 104.9%.

The production of several perennial crops in nine months increased compared with the identical period last year: cashew gained 262.3 thousand tons, up 21.6%; pepper achieved 255.6 thousand tons, up 1.2%; rubber reached 782 thousand tons, up 4.2%; bud tea attained 797.1 thousand tons, up 1.2%. The output of fruits reached the fairly good level: litchi reached 372.5 thousand tons, a rise of 60.1% against the same period in 2017; longan achieved 508.1 thousand tons, a rise of 13.5%; orange gained 556.3 thousand tons, up 12.6%; pitaya reached 519.5 thousand tons, an increase of 11.9%.

Buffalo and cattle husbandry generally witnessed stability. As of September, the whole country’s buffalo population reduced by 1.2% compared with the same period in 2017; cattle population increased by 2%; poultry population put up by 5.5%. Production of live weight of buffalo in nine months reached an estimate of 66.4 thousand tons, a rise of 0.9% (17.7 thousand tons in the third quarter, up 0.6%); production of live weight of cattle recorded 253.2 thousand tons, a rise of 2.6% (67.8 thousand tons in the third quarter, up 2.2%); production of live weight of pig reached 2.7 million tons, a drop of 0.3% (834.2 thousand tons in the third quarter, up 2.8%); production of live weight of poultry gained 817.6 thousand tons, an increase of 5.8% (209.2 thousand tons in the third quarter, up 5%); poultry egg gained 8.4 billion pieces, a growth of 10.8% (2.1 billion pieces in the third quarter, up 9.5%). As September 26, 2018, the whole country had no longer outbreak of foot and mouth disease in pig and blue-ear pig disease; avian influenza still occurred in Cao Bang province.

+ Agricultural production as of September 15, 2018
+ Animal husbandry

b) Forestry

In the third quarter of 2018, the concentrated planted forest area nationwide was estimated to reach 59.6 thousand ha, a decline of 5.4% compared with the same period last year; wood production achieved 3609 thousand m3, a rise of 11.6%; firewood production gained 5.7 million steres, a decline of 1.2%. Damaged forest area in the third quarter was 318.1 ha, up 29.2% against the same period last year, of which the burnt forest area was 174.6 ha, 3.2 times as high as that in the similar period last year; the destroyed forest area was 143.5 ha, a decrease of 24.9%.

Generally, in nine months, the concentrated planted forest area was estimated to reach 161.2 thousand ha, down 0.6% from the same period last year; the number of separate planted trees gained 59.2 million trees, down 0.2%; firewood production achieved 18.7 million steres, a decline of 1.6%; wood production recorded 9095 thousand m3, a rise of 10.6%. The damaged forest area was 873.1 ha, down 22.2% against the same period last year, of which the burnt forest area was 333.1 ha, a decrease of 18.7%; the destroyed forest area was 540 ha, a decrease of 24.2%.

+ Outcome of forestry production

c) Fishery

Total fishing production in nine months of this year was estimated to reach 5501.2 thousand tons, up 5.9% over the same period last year (it gained 1939 thousand tons in the third quarter, up 6.2%), of which fish achieved 3943.4 thousand tons, up 6.1%; shrimp achieved 668.5 thousand tons, up 7.3%; other aquatic products recorded 889.3 thousand tons, up 4.1%.

Production of aquaculture in nine months was estimated at 2922.7 thousand tons, a rise of 6.5% compared with the similar period last year (it was 1129.2 thousand tons in the third quarter, up 6.7%), of which fish reached 2055.8 thousand tons, increasing by 6.4%; shrimp gained 542.1 thousand tons, climbing by 8.4%. The whole country’s shark catfish farming area was estimated at 13.9 thousand ha, a rise of 3% against the identical period last year; output of shark catfish was estimated to reach 942.4 thousand tons, an increase of 9.3%. Estimated production of Asian tiger shrimp in nine months was 200.5 thousand tons, putting up by 4.2% from the same period last year; whiteleg shrimp gained 308.9 thousand tons, moving up by 10.7%.

Production of fishery caught in nine months achieved an estimate of 2578.5 thousand tons, increasing by 5.2% compared with the similar period last year (it reached 809.8 thousand tons in the third quarter, a rise of 5.5%), of which fish gained 1887.6 thousand tons, up 5.7%; shrimp recorded 126.4 thousand tons, up 2.8%.

+ Fishing production

3. Industry

Generally, in third quarter of 2018, IIP was estimated to increase by 10.7% compared with the same period last year, of which the mining and quarrying reduced by 3.4%; the manufacturing went up by 13.2%; the production and distribution of electricity jumped up by 7.6%; the water supply and waste treatment grew by  7.4%.

In nine months of 2018, IIP was estimated to increase by 10.6% over the same period last year (it raised by 12.7% in the first quarter; 8.2% in the second quarter; 10.7% in the third quarter), the highest growth rate since 2012[7]. Of which, the manufacturing continued to be the highlight leading the general growth of the whole industry with the increase of 12.9% (it climbed by 15.7% in the first quarter; 9.6% in the second quarter; 13.2% in the third quarter), contributed 9.9 percentage points to the overall growth, this is the highest growth rate of this industry over the years[8]; the production and distribution of electricity grew by 9.7%, contributed 0.9 percentage point; the water supply and waste treatment increased by 6.4%, contributed 0.1 percentage point; only the mining and quarrying fell by 2% (mainly due to an 11.7% decrease of crude oil exploitation), reduced 0.3 percentage point of the general growth.

Generally, in nine months of 2018, cconsumption index of the whole manufacturing increased by 12.2% against the same period last year (it grew by 12% in the same period in 2017). Inventory index of the entire manufacturing as of September 30, 2018 was estimated to put up by 13.8% over the similar period last year (it went up by 8.8% in the same period in 2017). Average inventory rate of the whole manufacturing in nine months of 2018 was 63.8% (it was 65.6% in the same period last year).

+ Industrial Production Index in September and 9 months of 2018
+ Industrial Production Index in quarters of 2018
+ Main industrial products in September and 9 months of 2018
+ Main industrial products in quarters of 2018
+ Consumption and stock indexes of the manufacturing
+ Labor employed index (LEI) for industrial enterprises

4. Operation of enterprises

a) Business registration situation[9]

Generally, in nine months, the whole country had 96611 enterprises registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 963.4 trillion dongs, an increase of 2.8% in the number of enterprise and 6.7% rise in the registered capital compared with the same period in 2017[10]. Average registered capital per newly established enterprise reached 10 billion dongs, up 3.8%. If including 1881.9 trillion dongs of additionally registered capital of the enterprises which changed to raise the capital, the total registered capital added to the economy in nine months of 2018 was 2845.3 trillion dongs. Besides, there were 22897 enterprises returning to operation, a rise of 8.5% over the similar period last year, bringing the total number of newly registered enterprises and re-operated enterprises in nine months of this year to more than 119.5 thousand enterprises. Total registered number of laborers of newly established enterprises in nine months of 2018 was 819.7 thousand persons, a decrease of 7.5% against the same period last year.

The number of temporarily ceased enterprises in nine months of 2018 was 73103 ones, an increase of 48.1% against the identical period last year, including 23053 enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of business, rising by 24.6% and 50050 enterprises temporarily suspended operation without registering or waiting for dissolution, increasing by 62.3%[11]. The number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolution in nine months of 2018 was 11536 ones, an increase of 32.1% from the same period last year, of which there were 10591 enterprises with capital size of less than 10 billion dongs, accounting for 91.8% and growing by 32%.

+ Number of newly registered enterprises by kinds of activity
+ Number of enterprises ceased for a certain period of time by kinds of activity
+ Number of enterprises temporarily ceased without registration or awaited dissolution
+ Number of enterprises completed dissolution procedures

b) Business trends of enterprises

Survey results on business trends of enterprises in the manufacturing industry in the third quarter of 2018 showed that: 43.1% of enterprises rated their business performance in the third quarter of this year better than the previous quarter; 17.8% of enterprises pointed to difficulties and 39.1% of enterprises said that their business and production situation was stable. Expected the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter of this year, 52.5% of enterprises rated the trend would be improved; 11.7% of enterprises forecasted more difficulties and 35.8% of businesses thought that the business and production situation would be stable.

5. Service activities

Total estimated retail sales of consumer goods and services in nine months of this year reached 3235.1 trillion dongs, up 11.3% over the similar period last year, if excluding the price factor, the growth rate was 8.8% (it increased by 8.76% in the same period in 2017), of which total estimated retail sales of consumer goods and services in the third quarter of 2018 gained 1113.1 trillion dongs, a rise of 3.8% over the previous quarter and a rise of 12.5% against the same period last year . By kinds of economic activity, retail sales of goods in nine months gained an estimate of 2433.1 trillion dongs, accounting for 75.2% of the total and increasing by 12% from the same period last year; Sales of accommodation and catering services was estimated at 396 trillion dongs, accounting for 12.3% of the total and rising by 8.4%; Sales of travelling achieved 30.3 trillion dongs, taking 0.9% of the total and increasing by 16.9%; Sales of other services achieved 375.7 trillion dongs, holding 11.6% of the total and growing by 9.7%.

Passenger carriage in the third quarter of this year reached 1183.7 million passengers, up 11.6% over the same period last year and 53.4 billion passengers-kilometres, up 10.5%. Cargo carriage achieved 415 million tons, up 11% and 78 billion tons-kilometres, up 9.2%, this was the quarter with the highest growth since the beginning of this year. Generally, in nine months, passenger carriage reached 3446.1 million passengers, a rise of 10.5% over the corresponding period last year and 153.5 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 10.6%; cargo carriage gained 1211.2 million tons, up 9.9% and 225.9 billion tons-kilometers, up 7.5%.

Telecommunication sale in the third quarter of 2018 were estimated to gain 96.4 trillion dongs, an increase of 7.3% from the similar period last year; generally, in nine months, it achieved 284.7 trillion dongs, a rise of 5.9%. As of the end of September 2018, the total number of telephone subscribers was estimated to achieve 126.5 million subscribers, an increase of 0.7% over the similar period last year, of which mobile phone subscribers reached 121.5 million ones, putting up by 2.5%; the number of fixed broadband Internet subscribers was estimated at 13.4 million subscribers, an increase of 25.3%.

International visitors to Vietnam in the third quarter of 2018 reached 3725 thousand arrivals, a rise of 14.9% compared with the same period last year, lower than the growth in the first quarter (30.9%) and the second quarter (23.1%).  Generally, in nine months, international visitors to Vietnam were estimated to gain 11616.5 thousand arrivals, an increase of 22.9% over the same period last year; of which visitors coming by airway gained 9407.4 thousand arrivals, moving up by 17.4%; by road: 2018.3 thousand arrivals, rising by 62.1%; by seaway: 190.8 thousand arrivals, a rise of 0.5%. Visitors from Asia reached 9029.3 thousand of arrivals, up 27.2% over the identical period last year; visitors from Europe reached an estimate of 1531.2 thousand arrivals, up 9.8%; visitors from the America reached 690.9 thousand arrivals, increasing by 12.5%; visitors from Australia gained 334 thousand arrivals, increasing by 6.3%; visitors from Africa achieved 31.1 thousand arrivals, a growth of 19.5%.

+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in September and 9 months of 2018
+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in quarters of 2018
+ Carriage of passengers and cargos in September and 9 months of 2018
+ Carriage of passengers and cargos in quarters of 2018
+ International visitors to Vietnam in September and 9 months of 2018
+ International visitors to Vietnam in quarters of 2018

6.  Banking and insurance operations

As of September 20, 2018, the total payment means increased by 8.74% over the end of 2017 (it grew by 9.59% in the same period in 2017); capital mobilization of credit organizations grew by 9.15% (it increased by 10.08% in the same period last year); credit growth of the economy reached 9.52% (it was 11.02% in the corresponding period in 2017).

Insurance business in the third quarter of 2018 continued to achieve the high growth, was estimated to increase by 18% compared with the same period last year, of which non-life insurance premium revenues grew by 14%; life insurance premium revenues rose by 20%. Estimated insurance premium revenues of the whole market in nine months moved up by 22% compared with the same period in 2017, of which non-life insurance premium revenues went up by 13%; life insurance premium revenues put up by 27%.

7. Development investment

Total realized social investment capital in nine months of 2018 at current prices was estimated at 1253.2 trillion dongs, up 10.9% over the identical period last year (it was 507.6 trillion dongs in the third quarter, up 12.5%) and equaling 34% of GDP, of which the State sector’s capital gained 420.5 trillion dongs, accounting for 33.6% of the total capital and increasing by 5% from the same period last year; the non-State sector’s capital obtained 533.1 trillion dongs, taking 42.5% and growing by 17.7%; the FDI sector’s capital attained 299.6 trillion dongs, representing 23.9% and moving up by 8.4%.

In the investment capital of the State sector, total realized investment capital under the State budget in nine months of 2018 reached an estimate of 214.5 trillion dongs, equaling 63.2% of the annual plan and increasing by 11.8% against the similar period last year (it equaled 62.4% of the yearly plan and grew by 6.6% in the similar period in 2017), of which the capital under central management obtained 39.8 trillion dongs, equaling 60.4% of the annual plan and decreasing by 6.9% compared with the same period last year; the capital under local management achieved 174.7 trillion dongs, equaling 63.9% of the annual plan and increasing by 17.1% from the same period last year.

From the beginning of the year to September 20, 2018, FDI attracted 2182 newly licensed projects with the total registered capital of US$ 14124.5 million, up 18.3% in the number of projects and down 3% in the registered capital against the similar period in 2017. Besides, there were 841 turns of license-granted projects from previous years registered to adjust investment capital with the additional capital of US$ 5544.2 million, down 17.9% from the same period last year. Thus, the total of newly registered capital and additional capital in nine months of this year reached an estimate of US$ 13.25 billion, up 6% from 2017’s same period.  In nine months of 2018, there were 5275 turns of capital contribution and share purchase of foreign investors with a total capital contribution of US$ 5.7 billion, a growth of 36.8% against the same period in 2017, of which 788 turns of capital contribution and share purchase increased the charter capital of enterprises with the contributed capital of US$ 1.84 billion and 5087 turns of foreign investors bought back domestic shares without increasing charter capital with the value of US$ 3.86 billion.

Vietnam’s direct investment abroad in nine months of this year had 99 projects newly granted the Outward Investment Registration Certificate with Vietnam’s total investment capital of US$ 286 million; 23 capital adjustment projects with additional capital of US$ 44.9 million. Generally, Vietnam’s total offshore investment capital (including newly granted and additional capital) in nine months of 2018 gained US$ 330.9 million, of which the field of finance and banking reached US$ 105.8 million, accounting for 32% of the total investment capital; the field of agriculture, forestry and fishery reached US$ 63.8 million, holding 19.3%; the field of manufacturing achieved US$ 45.9 million, representing 13.9%. In nine months, there were 30 countries and territories receiving Vietnam’s investment, of which the leading was Laos with US$ 95.2 million, accounting for 28.8% of the total investment capital; followed by Italy with US$ 46.8 million, accounting for 14.1%; Slovakia with US$ 35.9 million, taking 10.9%.

+ Realized social investment capital at current prices
+ Realized investment capital under the State budget in September and 9 months of 2018
+ Realized investment capital under the State budget in quarters of 2018
+ Licensed FDI projects from January 01 to September 20, 2018

8. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to September 15, 2018 achieved 898.3 trillion dongs, equaling 68.1% of the annual estimate, of which domestic revenues reached 710.1 trillion dongs, equaling 64.6%; collecting from crude oil gained 43.5 trillion dongs, equaling 121.1%; collecting from export-import balance obtained 140.9 trillion dongs, equaling 78.7%.

Total government expenditures from the beginning of the year to September 15, 2018 was estimated at 936.6 trillion dongs, equaling 61.5% of the yearly estimate, of which regular expenditures were 651 trillion dongs, equaling 69.2%; expenditure on development investment achieved 192.8 trillion dongs, equaling 48.2%; expenditure on interest payment was 79.3 trillion dongs, equaling 70.5%.

9. Exports and imports of goods

a) Exports of goods

Export turnover of goods in nine months of 2018 was estimated to reach US$ 178.91 billion, a rise of 15.4% compared with the same period in 2017 (it achieved US$ 64.73 billion, up 13.9% in the third quarter), of which the domestic economic sector gained US$ 51.07 billion, moving up by 17.5%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) gained US$ 127.84 billion (accounting for 71.5% of total export turnover), increasing by 14.6%. If the price factor was excluded, export turnover of goods in nine months increased by 14.2% over the same period in 2017.

In nine months, 26 items achieved an export turnover of over US$ 1 billion, accounting for 90.3% of the total export turnover of the country, of which 5 items reached over US$ 10 billion, accounting for 58.2%.

b) Imports of goods

Import turnover of goods in nine months reached an estimate of US$ 173.52 billion, moving up by 11.8% from the same period last year (it gained US$ 62.70 billion, up 16% in the third quarter), of which the domestic economic sector gained US$ 69.34 billion, climbing by 11.7%; the FDI sector achieved US$ 104.18 billion, jumping up by 11.9%. If excluding the price factor, import turnover of goods in nine months grew by 10.3% compared with the similar period in 2017.

In nine months of this year, 30 items was estimated to reach an import turnover of over US$ 1 billion, accounting for 87.5% of the total import turnover, of which 3 items gained over US$ 10 billion, accounting for 38.5% of the total import turnover.

About merchandize trade balance in nine months of 2018, Vietnam continued to have trade surplus of US$ 5.39 billion, of which the domestic economic sector had trade deficit of US$ 18.26 billion; the FDI sector (including crude oil) had trade surplus of US$ 23.65 billion.

c) Export and import of services

Service export turnover in nine months of 2018 were estimated to reach US$ 11.1 billion, up 14.6% compared with the same period in 2017 (it gained US$ 3.6 billion, up 8.8% in the third quarter), of which travel service gained US$ 7.6 billion (accounting for 68.3% of the total export turnover), a rise of 15%; transportation service achieved US$ 2.2 billion (accounting for 19.4%), increasing by 16%. Estimated service import turnover in nine months reached US$ 13.8 billion, putting up by 8.1% over the similar period last year (it recorded US$ 4.9 billion, up 10.1%), of which transportation service gained US$ 6.5 billion (accounting for 47.3% of the total import turnover), increasing by 8.9%; travel service attained US$ 4.4 billion (making up 31.6%), rising by 11.5%. Trade deficit of services in nine months was US$ 2.7 billion, equaling 24.2% of the service export turnover.

+ Exports in September and 9 months of 2018
+ Exports in quarters of 2018
+ Imports in September and 9 months of 2018
+ Imports in quarters of 2018
+ Import and export of services

10. Price indexes

a) Consumer price indexes (CPI)

Generally, in the third quarter of 2018, CPI increased by 0.72% compared with the previous quarter and by 4.14% from the third quarter of 2017. Average CPI in nine months of 2018 increased by 3.57% compared with the same period in 2017. CPI in September 2018 grew by 3.20% over December 2017 and by 3.98% against the similar period in 2017.

Core inflation in September 2018 increased by 0.14% over the previous month and by 1.61% from the same period last year. Average core inflation in nine months of 2018 moved up by 1.41% compared with the corresponding period in 2017.

b) Gold price index and US dollar index

Gold price index in September 2018 reduced by 0.97% against the previous month, decrease by 1.89% from December 2017 and fell by 3.16% compared with the similar period last year. The US dollar price index in September 2018 increased by 0.16% over the previous month, grew by 2.59% against December 2017 and went up by 2.57% from the corresponding period in 2017.

c) Producer price indexes (PPI) and merchandize export-import price indexes

PPI for agriculture, forestry and fishery in the third quarter of this year increased by 1.13% over the previous quarter and increased by 4.4% from the same period last year; PPI for industry in the third quarter grew by 1.08% and 3.91%, respectively ; PPI for services moved up by 1.24% and 3.20%, respectively. Generally, in nine months, PPI for agriculture, forestry and fishery expanded by 1.2% compared with the same period in 2017 ; PPI for industry went up by 3.19% ; PPI for services grew by 2.95%.

Merchandize export price index in nine months of 2018 increased by 1.02% over the same period in 2017 (in the third quarter, it dropped by 0.66% from the previous quarter and climbed by 1.64% over the same period last year); Merchandize import price index jumped up by 1.38% (in the third quarter, it grew by 0.39% against the previous quarter and put up by 1.99% over the same period last year). Merchandize term of trade in nine months fell by 0.36% against the similar period in 2017 (in the third quarter, it reduced by 1.05% compared with the previous quarter and decreased by 0.34% from the same period last year).

+ Consumer price indexes, gold, US dollar price indexes and core inflation in September 2018
+ Producer Price Indexes
+ Price index of materials, fuels used for production
+ Transport and Warehouse Charge Index
+ Merchandize export price index
+ Merchandize import price index
+ Commodity term of trade

11. Population, labor and employment

The country’s average population in 2018 was estimated at 94.66 million persons, of which urban population was 33.63 million persons, accounting for 35.5%; rural population was 61.03 million persons, holding 64.5%; male population was 46.75 million persons, taking 49.4%; female population was 47.91 million persons, making up 50.6%.

The labor force aged 15 years and above in nine months of 2018 was 55.2 million persons, expanding 581.5 thousand persons compared with the same period last year (in the third quarter of 2018, it was 55.4 million persons, a rise of 551.5 thousand persons from the third quarter of 2017); labor force at working age was 48.5 million persons, an increase of 535.7 thousand persons (in the third quarter of 2018, it was 48.8 million persons, a rise of 539.9 thousand ones compared with the similar period last year).

The unemployment rate of labourers at working age in nine months of this year was estimated at 2.2% (it was 3.3% in the first quarter, 2.19% in the second quarter, 2.2% in the third quarter), of which this rate was 3.1% for the urban area and 1.74% for the rural area.

In nine months of this year, underemployment rate of working-age laborers was estimated at 1.46% (it was 1.52% in the first quarter, 1.43% in the second quarter, 1.42% in the third quarter of 2018), of which it was 0.63% for the urban area; 1.86% for the rural area.

+ Selected indicators on labours
+ Unemployment and underemployment rate of laborers

12. People’s life and social security

Generally, in nine months of 2018, the whole country had 100.7 thousand households suffering from food shortage, a decrease of 38.4% from the same period last year, corresponding to 401.5 thousand persons suffering from food shortage, a decline of 40.2%. To overcome this problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and organizations from central to local level supported difficult households with 7.4 thousand tons of food.

According to the preliminary report, the total gifts awarded to policy beneficiary objects, people with merit, social protection beneficiaries in nine months were 4763 trillion dongs. In addition, nearly 22.6 million health insurance cards, free health care books/cards were donated to policy beneficiaries nationwide.

13. Education and training

According to the preliminary report, the 2017 national high school exam was held at 2144 exam venues, corresponding to 39689 exam rooms. 925.8 thousand candidates registered to take part in the exam, of which 687.9 thousand candidates registered for admission to universities and colleges, accounting for 74.3% of the total number of candidates registered to participate in the exam.

At the time of starting the school year 2018-2019, the country had 5.3 million preschool children and 16.6 million pupils of general education going to school. At present, the whole country had 1954 vocational training establishments, including 394 occupational colleges, 515 occupational intermediate schools, and 1045 occupational training centers. Vocational training as of the end of August 2018 enrolled 1492 thousand new students, of which 342 thousand students were enrolled for college and intermediate level; 1150 thousand students were enrolled for elementary level and other vocational training programmes. Besides, in 2018, about 800,000 rural workers are expected to receive vocational training, including 19.8 thousand persons with disabilities according to the project “Vocational training for rural workers until 2020”.

14. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, in nine months of 2018, the whole country had 42.8 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 56.1 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever (11 cases died); 456 cases of typhoid; 630 cases of virus encephalitis (18 cases died); 20 cases of meningococcal disease (1 case died); 536 cases of whooping cough (2 case died); 72 human cases of streptococcus suis infection (6 cases died); and 57 cases died of rabies.

Total number of alive HIV-infected persons over the country as of September 18, 2018 was 208.5 thousand persons and nearly 93.1 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of HIV/AIDS nationwide as of above time-point was 98.07 thousand persons.

The total number of food poisoning cases in 9 months of this year was 62 cases, making 1557 persons poisoned, of which 10 cases died.

15. Culture and sports

Cultural activities in nine months of 2018 focused on celebrating the big holidays, major events of the country and building the cultural life at the grassroots. Since the beginning of the year, in high-performance sports, the Vietnam sports delegation won 368 gold medals, 281 silver medals and 226 bronze medals at regional and international competitions. At the 2018 Asian Games (ASIAD 18), the Vietnam sports delegation won 4 gold medals, 16 silver medals and 18 bronze medals, ranking 17th out of 45 countries and territories.

16. Traffic accidents

Generally, in nine months of 2018, 13242 traffic accidents occurred nationwide, including 6861 cases of traffic accidents from less serious to become and 6381 cases of traffic collisions, causing6012 deaths, 3670 injuries and 6649 minor injuries. Compared with the same period last year, the number of traffic accidents in nine months of this year declined by 7.8% (number of traffic accidents of differently serious levels reduced by 2.3%; number of traffic collisions decreased by 13.1%); number of death fell by 1.8%; number of injuries went up by 3.4% and number of minor injuries moved down by 19.3%. On average, 48 traffic accidents occurred a day in nine months of 2018, including 25 traffic accidents from less serious to become and 23 traffic collisions, causing 22 deaths and 13 injuries and 24 minor injuries.

17. Damages caused by natural calamity, environment protection, fire and explosion prevention

According to the preliminary report from localities, natural disasters in nine months of 2018 made 27 people dead and missing; 12 ones injured; 544 thousand houses collapsed and swept away; 14.1 thousand houses flooded, damaged and roof ripped-off; 8.7 thousand ha of paddy and crops damaged. The total loss caused by natural disasters in the month was estimated at 785 billion dongs.Generally, in nine months, natural disasters made 183 persons dead and missing; 129 ones injured; over 1800 houses collapsed and swept away; 59.5 thousand houses flooded, damaged and roof ripped-off; 141.7 thousand ha of paddy and 29.6 thousand ha of crops damaged. The total loss caused by natural disasters in nine months was estimated at over 8.8 trillion dongs.

In nine months of 2018, 10988 cases of violating regulations of environment protection were found over the country, of which 10264 cases were treated with total fine of over 161 billion dongs.

In nine months, the whole country had 3008 fire and explosion cases, causing 82 deaths and 224 injuries, with an estimated damage of about 1.5 trillion dongs.

+ Some key social and environmental indicators

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1] GDP growth in the second quarter of 2018 was down 0.06 percentage point from the 6.79% estimate due to the adjustment of the growth of the agricultural, forestry and fishery sector and the service sector to reduce 0.25 percentage point (the main reason was that the estimated data of cashew, pepper, whiteleg shrimp was higher than the preliminary data) and 0.01 percentage point, respectively.

[2] GDP growth in the third quarter of some years was as follows: an increase of 6.21% in 2011; an increase of 5.39% in 2012; a 5.54% increase in 2013; a growth of 6.07% in 2014; a rise of 6.87% in 2015; a rise of 6.56% in 2016; an increase of 7.38% in 2017; and a 6.88% increase in 2018.

[3] GDP growth in nine months of some years was as follows: a rise of 6.03% in 2011; a rise of 5.10% in 2012; a rise of 5.14% in 2013; a rise of 5.53% in 2014; a 6.53% growth in 2015; an increase of 5.99% in 2016; an increase of 6.41% in 2017; and a 6.98% increase in 2018.

[4] The growth rate of the total added value of the fishery sector in nine months of some years was as follows: a growth of 3.46% in 2011; a 4.06% growth in 2012; a rise of 2.95% in 2013; a 6.15% rise in 2014; an increase of 2.11% in 2015; a 1.81% increase in 2016; a growth of 5.48% in 2017; and a 6.37% growth in 2018.

[5] The growth rate of the added value of the manufacturing in nine months increased by 8.74% in 2012; 6.58% in 2013; 7.09% in 2014; 10.15% in 2015; 11.10% in 2016; 12.77% in 2017; and 12.65% in 2018.

[6] The growth rate of the added value of the service sector in nine months of some years was as follows: a rise of 6.47% in 2012; a rise of 6.43% in 2013; a 5.94% rise in 2014; an increase of 6.10% in 2015; a 6.67% increase in 2016; a growth of 7.21% in 2017; and a 6.89% growth in 2018.

[7] The IIP growth rate in nine months of years 2012-2018 was 6.1%, 5.3%, 6.8%, 9.9%, 7.1%, 8.8%, 10.6%, respectively.

[8] The growth rate of the manufacturing in nine months of years 2012-2018 was 5.5%, 6.7%, 8.3%, 10.2%, 10.5%, 12.2%, 12.9%, respectively.

[9] Source: National Business Registration Information System, Agency for Business Registration, Ministry of Planning and Investment.

[10] In nine months of 2017, the number of newly established enterprises increased by 15.4% compared with the same period of the previous year; the registered capital raised by 43.5%; average registered capital per enterprise put up by 24.4%.

[11] The number of enterprises temporarily suspended operation without registering or waiting for dissolution increased highly, one of the reasons was that business registration offices over the country were reviewing, standardizing data, eliminating enterprises which have been no longer in operation for a long time.