Retail sales of goods and services in Vietnam plunge in January-August

A woman shops for pork at the Hàng Bè Market in Hanoi. — VNA/VNS

HANOI (Vietnam News/Asia News Network): The nation’s total revenue from retail trade and services reached over VNĐ3 quadrillion (US$133.55 billion), down 4.7 per cent in the first eight months of 2021 compared to a modest 1.1 per cent decline seen in the same period of last year, the latest report from the General Statistic Office (GSO) has shown.

In August alone, the total retail sales of goods and services saw strong declines of 34 per cent year-on-year and 10.5 per cent month-on-month to VNĐ279.8 trillion as many localities had to implement strict social distancing measures and restrictions under the Government's Directive 16 due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic nationwide.