(Source: VNA)
Total retail sales of consumer goods and services exceeded 542.6 trillion VND (25.83 billion USD) in the first two months of 2015, an annual increase of 11.4 percent, reported the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).
Nearly 413.2 trillion VND (19.67 billion USD) was generated through trading activities, representing a 10.6 percent annual increase and 76.2 percent of the total figure.
The hotel and hospitality sector contributed over 64.2 trillion VND (3.06 billion USD), or 11.8 percent of the two-month revenue while services accounted for 11.2 percent at 60.8 trillion VND (2.89 billion USD). They posted respective increases of 12.5 percent and 16.5 percent from a year earlier.
Tourism accounted for only 0.8 percent of the total retail sales with 4.5 trillion VND (214.3 million USD), up 0.4 percent from the same period in 2014, the MoIT said.
In February alone, retail sales were valued at more than 276 trillion VND (13.14 billion USD), a 3.7 percent rise from January.
In anticipation of the Lunar New Year, February saw substantial increases in consumer goods purchases such as household utensils, apparel, footwear, food, and soft drinks.
An array of promotional programmes were offered by businesses in February to stimulate purchasing power and the supply of goods and services at supermarkets and traditional markets were ensured, the ministry said.
(vietnamplus2015年3月4日)
