Despite challenges, Vietnam recorded positive econnomic signals during the first five months of 2025 as the Government stays steadfast in the growth target of over 8% this year and double-digit expansion beyond.

In early 2025, the Lao economy showed signs of recovery amid many challenges and fluctuations in the global economy. In the first quarter of this year, the Lao economy achieved a growth rate of 4.5%. According to the latest report of the Government in May, the country's inflation rate decreased significantly to 8.3% in the month.

Its Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 4.27% in the first five months, impacting residents' budgets, according to a report by the city’s Statistics Office.

Major contributors to the four-month CPI hike included food and catering services, which rose by 3.86% year-on-year and contributed 1.3 percentage points to the overall CPI growth, according to the National Statistics Office.

After a gloomy period in 2023, Vietnam's economy has recovered impressively thanks to strong external demand, helping exports of goods and services increase by 15.5% in 2024, according to the World Bank.

The CPI for the first quarter of 2025 increased by 2.75% compared to the same period last year, indicating that inflation remains well under control.

Resilient domestic demand and ongoing investment activity are expected to help the Malaysian economy to grow 4.5-5.5% this year.

The bank believes inflation will increase to 3.8% year-on-year in February, up from 3.6% in January 2025.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra appealed for a rate cut after last year’s 2.5% growth came below economists’ estimates.

These efforts, in conjunction with the implementation of monetary policies and other macroeconomic policies, aim to solve difficulties for businesses and the public, stabilise the macroeconomy, control inflation, ensure the balance of the economy, promote economic growth, and secure social welfare and people's livelihoods.

Price adjustments under the Ministry of Health’s Circular 21/2024/TT-BYT, coupled with soaring demand for medical examinations and treatment due to adverse weather, increased pharmaceutical and health service prices in January by 9.47% compared to the previous month.

Thailand's inflation is expected to reach 1.1% this year, aligning with the Bank of Thailand (BOT)’s target range of 1-3%.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged the banking sector to make an important contribution to maintaining macroeconomic stability, promoting growth, ensuring major balances; reducing costs to reduce lending rates; and providing credit to prioritised industries and programmes.

Vietnam’s success in controlling inflation in 2024 marks a crucial achievement, establishing a strong stepping stone for the country to respond to the challenges anticipated in 2025.

Vietnam will take various actions to achieve a growth rate of at least 8% in 2025 as set by the Government, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Duc Tam told a regular Government press briefing on January 8.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received a delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s 2024 Article IV Mission to Vietnam led by its head Paulo Medas in Hanoi on November 15.

Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) has revised up its GDP growth forecast for Vietnam to 6.4% this year from the previous projection of 5.9%.

A sharp rise has been recorded in foreign trade over the past few months, and if this upward trend is sustained, this year’s foreign trade turnover is likely to break the record of 732 billion USD set in 2022.

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has revised the 2024 economic growth projection given the stronger-than-expected momentum in the second quarter (Q2).

Although inflation has been controlled in accordance with the set target, state management agencies and enterprises have stayed vigilant and prepare price stabilisation measures in the remainders of the year.