Retail sales of goods, services hit US$56.9 billion in first quarter
VOV.VN - The first quarter of the year witnessed the nation’s total revenue from retail sales of goods and services reach US$56.9 billion, a year-on-year rise of 4.4%, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
The opening quarter saw trade and service activities gradually recover, with the total retail sales of consumer goods and services throughout the reviewed period higher than that of the same period recorded in previous years.
In March alone, the total retail sales of goods and services stood at VND438 trillion, a rise of 2.9% on-month and 9.4 % on-year.
Furthermore, retail sales of goods soared by 5.8% over last year’s figure. Of which, the group of food and foodstuffs was up 11%, cultural and educational items expanded by 10.1%, means of transport grew by 5.4%, while clothing fell by 3.6%, and household appliances and equipment dropped by 4.9%.
The GSO attributed this level of growth to a sharp increase in fuel prices. Indeed, three-month revenue of lodging and catering services expanded by 1.2% on-year, while turnover from tourism services rose slightly by 1.9% in the first quarter of the year as the country reopened to international tourists.