The total retail sales and service revenue rose 8.3 percentyear-on-year to over 863.9 trillion VND (37.4 billion USD) in the first twomonths of 2020, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Retail sales of goods in January-February were estimated at 674 trillion VND (nearly 29.2 billion USD), up 9.8 percent against the same period last year - Illustrative image. Source: VNA

Retail sales of goods in January-February were estimated at674 trillion VND (nearly 29.2 billion USD), up 9.8 percent against the sameperiod last year. 

Increases were seen in the sales of automobiles (up 11.2percent), gasoline and oil (up 11 percent), household appliances, tools, andequipment (up 9.5 percent), garment-textile (up 8.9 percent), food andfoodstuff (up 8.6 percent), vehicles (up 7.1 percent), and cultural andeducation products (up 4.7 percent).

Localities recording significant growth in retail salesinclude Quang Ninh province (13.8 percent), Hai Phong city (13.6 percent),Thanh Hoa province (11.9 percent), Nghe An province (10.9 percent), and capitalcity of Hanoi (10.5 percent).

Revenues from accommodation and catering services in thetwo-month period was estimated at 95 trillion VND (4.08 billion USD), up only1.7 percent year-on-year due to the impact of the acute respiratory diseasecaused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Declines in accommodation and catering service revenues wasreported in most of localities, including Khanh Hoa province (24.2 percent),Lam Dong province (10.2 percent), Hanoi city (8.1 percent), Can Tho city (5.6percent), and Ho Chi Minh City (5 percent).

Travel service revenues reached 7.4 trillion VND (320 millionUSD), up 1.1 percent year-on-year. Slight growth was seen in some cities andprovinces such as Binh Thuan province (5.3 percent), Da Nang city (1.5percent), and Ha Tinh province (0.8 percent).

Revenues from other services rose 5.2 percent year-on-year to87.5 trillion VND (almost 3.8 billion USD).

Source: VNA