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 ($67 billion ), representing a rise of 11.9 percent over the same period last year.
This was the highest rate of increase in the past five years, compared to 10.7 percent in the same period of 2015, 10 percent in 2016 and 2017 and 11.3 percent in 2018.
In April alone, the retail sale value was VND 400 trillion ($17.3 billion ), up 2.3 percent over the previous month.
Revenue from retail goods accounted for 76.8 percent of the total retail sale value and increased by 13.2 percent 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 percent), Phu Tho (up 17.9 percent), Quang Nam (up 16.8 percent), Binh Duong (up 16.4 percent), Quang Ninh (up 15.4 percent), Hai Phong (up 14.4 percent), HCM City (up 13.5 percent) and Hanoi (up 13.1 percent).
Revenue from accommodation and catering services totalled VND187.4 trillion ($8.1 billion ), an increase of 9.2 percent over the same period last year.
Tourism services recorded a revenue of VND14.9 trillion ($644.3 million ), up by 13.1 percent.
