Kiosks selling fabric products at a market in Kien Giang Province.The retail sale value in January - April increased at the highest rate since 2015. — VNS/VNS Photo Hong Dat

Goods and services trading continued its upward trend in the January-April period with the retail sale value increasing at the highest rate since 2015, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Latest updates from the GSO showed that the total retail sale value of consumption goods and services in the first four months of this year was estimated at VND1.58 quadrillion (US$67 billion), representing a rise of 11.9 per cent over the same period last year. This was the highest rate of increase in the past five years, compared to 10.7 per cent in the same period of 2015, 10 per cent in 2016 and 2017 and 11.3 per cent in 2018.

In April alone, the retail sale value was VND400 trillion, up 2.3 per cent over the previous month.

Revenue from retail goods accounted for 76.8 per cent of the total retail sale value and increased by 13.2 per cent over the same period last year.

Goods which saw significant increases in retail sale value included food and foodstuffs, household appliances and garment products.

Provinces and cities which saw strong purchasing power for consumer goods were Tra Vinh (up 19.8 per cent), Phu Tho (up 17.9 per cent), Quang Nam (up 16.8 per cent), Binh Duong (up 16.4 per cent), Quang Ninh (up 15.4 per cent), Hai Phong (up 14.4 per cent), HCM City (up 13.5 per cent) and Ha Noi (up 13.1 per cent).

Revenue from accommodation and catering services totalled VND187.4 trillion, an increase of 9.2 per cent over the same period last year.

Tourism services recorded a revenue of VND14.9 trillion, up by 13.1 per cent. — VNS