The total revenue of retail goods, which accounted for more than 75 per cent of the total revenue, hit $39.5 billion, up 9 per cent. — VNA/VNS Photo Tran Viet

This was equivalent to US$51.7 billion, and a year-on-year increase of 8.8 per cent.

The increase was estimated at 7.5 per cent if the price factor was excluded, lower than the growth of the first four months of last year at 8.3 per cent, and the lowest growth since the beginning of this year.

In particular, the growth of January was 11 per cent, of the first two months is 8.3 per cent, and of the first three months was 7.9 per cent.

GSO expert Vu Manh Ha attributed the decrease in purchasing power of the first four months of this year to the significant growth of the consumer price index (CPI) of the first four months compared to the same period last year.

However, total sales still saw a fairly positive increase.

Of these, the total revenue of retail goods, which accounted for more than 75 per cent of the total revenue, hit $39.5 billion, up 9 per cent.

Of these, food and foodstuff retail increased 13 per cent, garment retail increased 10.6 per cent, transportation services 10 per cent, home appliances 9.2 per cent and retail of culture and education products increased 1.3 per cent.

The total revenue of accommodation and restaurant service sales, which accounted for 11.2 per cent of the total revenue, increasing 8 per cent in the first four months.

Localities which had a high growth in the sector's revenue included Thanh Hoa (15 per cent), Ninh Binh (9 per cent), Ha Noi (nearly 9 per cent) and HCM City (nearly 8 per cent).

The total revenue of tourism and travel sector, which accounted for only 0.8 per cent, also reached a growth of 8 per cent in the first four months.

Of these, tourism of Lam Dong Province had the highest increase in revenue of 16.5 per cent, followed by Can Tho Province (12 per cent), Ha Noi (8.1 per cent) and HCM City (6.5 per cent). — VNS