1. Macroeconomic stability

• Consumer price index: CPI of May increased by 0.54% as compared to the last month and by 1.88% over December 2015. CPI of May rose by 2.28% as compared to the same period last year and average CPI of the first 5 months by 1.59%.
• Monetary and credit: As of May 20^th 2016, total means of payment was estimated to increase by 5.88% over December 2015; total deposit of customers in credit institutions by 5.52%; credit of the economy by 4.52%.
• State budget revenue – expenditure: In the first 5 months, total state budget revenue was estimated at 396.2 thousand billion dong, equaling 39.1% of the yearly estimate, total state budget expenditure was estimated at 466.3 thousand billion dong, equivalent to 36.6% of the yearly estimate.

2. Economic growth

• Index of Industrial Production: IIP of May increased by 2.4% over the last month and by 7.8% as compared to May 2015. Generally, IIP of the first 5 months increased by 7.5% as compared to the same period last year; including: electricity production and distribution by 12%; processing and manufacturing by 9.7%; water supply, wastewater and waste treatment by 8.5%; mining decreased 1.2%.
• Agricultural, forestry and fishery production:

Cultivation of winter spring rice: As of 15^th May, as much as 3.08 million hectares was cultivated nationwide, equaling 99% of the same period last year; in which, Northern provinces have basically finished with 1.16 million hectares, equivalent to 99.4% of the same period last year.

Cultivation of summer autumn rice: As of 15^th May, as much as 1.02 million hectares was cultivated in Southern provinces, equaling 89.4% of the same period last year; in which, Mekong river delta provinces cultivated 945.4 thousand hectares, equivalent to 88.3% of the same period last year due to the impact of pro-longed drought and saline intrusion.

• Service sector: In the first 5 months, total retailed sales of consumer goods and services increased 9.1% as compared to the same period 2015, equivalent to the increase of the same period last year. International visitors to Vietnam were estimated at more than 4 million arrivals, up 20% as compared to the same period last year.
• Export and import: In the first 5 months, total export turnover was estimated at US$ 67.7 billion, up 6.6% as compared to the same period 2015; total import turnover was estimated at US$ 66.34 billion, down 0.9% as compared to the same period 2015; trade surplus was US$ 1.36 billion, equaling 2% of total export turnover.
• FDI attraction: FDI capital increased highly as compared to the same period in term of registered and realized capital due to positive impact of Investment Law and Enterprises Law (amended). In the first 5 months, realized FDI capital was estimated at US$ 5.8 billion, up 17.2% as compared to the same period last year. Realized FDI capital of the first 5 months was estimated at US$ 5.8 billion, up 17.2% as compared to the same period last year. Total registered FDI capital was estimated at US$ 10.16 billion, up 2.4 times as compared to the same period last year. Disbursement of ODA loans and concessional loans granted by foreign investors in the first 5 months was estimated at US$ 900 million, up 10.9% as compared to the same period last year.

3. Labors, social welfares, culture and others

• Labors and employees: in the first 5 months, as much as 613.8 thousand jobs were estimated to create, obtaining 38.3% of the plan and equaling 96.2% as compared to the same period 2015; in which, labor export was about 43.8 thousand, reaching 43.9% of the plan and equivalent to 98.8% as compared to the same period 2015. Policies on social insurance and unemployment insurance for employees continued carrying out, base salary has been raised (from 1.15 to 1.21 million dong) since 1^st May according to prescribed route.
• Social welfares, people’s healthcare continued being paid attention to implement. Levels, branches deployed support measures for areas affected by natural disasters, drought, saline intrusion and households affected by die-off fish in the Central coastal provinces… to remove a part of people’s difficulties. Preventive healthcare, ensure of hygiene safety food, prevention of food poisoning were boosted, such as: checking conditions of transportation and storage of vaccines in some localities, unexpectedly inspecting some facilities of production, food and bottling water processing…
• Artistical and cultural activities celebrating major holidays of Vietnam were held throughout with rich content. Conserving and embellishing cultural heritage continued being cared about. Grassroot cultural life was paid attention…
•  Information communication sector implemented many TV, radio, press programs on the 126^th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh, anniversary of 62 years of the victory of Dien Bien Phu, 130 years of International Labor’s Day, election of members of the 13^th National Assembly and People’s Council at all levels for term 2016-2021, foreign affairs activities of the Leaders of Party and State, information on new mechanism, policy and socio-economic situation of the country…
• Traffic safety: in the first 5 months (from 16^th December 2015 to 15^th May 2016), as much as 8,374 accident cases were occurred nationwide, killing 3,588 people, injuring 7,339 people. As compared to the same period last year, number of traffic accidents reduced by 10.1%, death toll by 3.94%, injury by 14.23%.

Generally, macro economy was stable, inflation was curbed. Lending rate tended to decrease; foreign currency exchange rate and market was stable. FDI attraction obtained positive results, both of committed and realized FDI capital rose high as compared to the same period last year. Labors, social welfares and others were paid attention and reached some outcomes. Political safety and social order were maintained. Ensuring of traffic safety and order had positive changes. Activties of foreign affairs gained positive results.

However, socio-economic situation in the first 5 months remained many difficulties and challenges. Inflation was curbed but hidden risk of rising. International visitors to Vietnam tended to decline. Increase of export turnover was lower than the goals set forth. Traffic accident decreased as compared to the same period last year but serious traffic accidents still occurred. Forest damaged by fire and destruction was still high. People’s life in areas affected by natural disasters, drought, saline intrusion, marine environmental pollution faced many difficulties./.

Ministry of Planning and Investment