Customers at a Vinmart surpermarket in Hung Yen Province. Viet Nam gained a year-on-year growth of 8.3 per cent in total retail sales and service revenue in the first two months this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Pham Kien

Viet Nam’s total retail sales and service revenue rose 8.3 per cent year-on-year to over VND863.9 trillion (US$37.4 billion) in the first two months of this year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Of which, retail sales of goods in January-February were estimated at VND674 trillion, up 9.8 per cent against the same period last year.

Increases were seen in the sales of automobiles (up 11.2 per cent), gasoline and oil (up 11 per cent), household appliances, tools, and equipment (up 9.5 per cent), garment-textile (up 8.9 per cent), food and foodstuff (up 8.6 per cent), vehicles (up 7.1 per cent), and cultural and education products (up 4.7 per cent).

Localities recording significant growth in retail sales include Quang Ninh Province (13.8 per cent), Hai Phong City (13.6 per cent), Thanh Hoa Province (11.9 per cent), Nghe An Province (10.9 per cent) and Ha Noi (10.5 per cent).

Revenues from accommodation and catering services in the two-month period were estimated at VND95 trillion, up only 1.7 per cent year-on-year due to the impact of the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Declines in accommodation and catering service revenues was reported in most localities, including Khanh Hoa Province (24.2 per cent), Lam Dong Province (10.2 per cent), Ha Noi (8.1 per cent), Can Tho City (5.6 per cent), and HCM City (5 per cent).

Travel service revenues reached VND7.4 trillion, up 1.1 per cent year-on-year. Slight growth was seen in some cities and provinces such as Binh Thuan Province (5.3 per cent), Da Nang City (1.5 per cent) and Ha Tinh Province (0.8 per cent).

Revenues from other services rose 5.2 per cent year-on-year to VND87.5 trillion. — VNS