HANOI, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Vietnam likely recorded a trade deficit of $500 million in January, swinging from a surplus of $2.54 billion in December, government data released on Saturday showed.
Exports in January were estimated to have risen 1.6% from a year earlier to $29 billion, while imports were seen up 11.5% to $29.5 billion, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said in a statement.
The GSO traditionally releases data before the end of the reporting period, and its trade data is often subject to significant revision.
According to the GSO, Vietnam's industrial output in January rose 2.4% from a year earlier.
Vietnam's consumer prices in January rose 1.94% from a year earlier and were up 0.19% from December, it added. (Editing by William Mallard)
