Total retail sales of consumer goods and services exceeded 542.6trillion VND (25.83 billion USD) in the first two months of 2015, anannual increase of 11.4 percent, reported the Ministry of Industry andTrade (MoIT).

Nearly 413.2 trillion VND (19.67billion USD) was generated through trading activities, representing a10.6 percent annual increase and 76.2 percent of the total figure.

The hotel and hospitality sector contributed over 64.2 trillion VND(3.06 billion USD), or 11.8 percent of the two-month revenue whileservices accounted for 11.2 percent at 60.8 trillion VND (2.89 billionUSD). They posted respective increases of 12.5 percent and 16.5 percentfrom a year earlier.

Tourism accounted for only 0.8percent of the total retail sales with 4.5 trillion VND (214.3 millionUSD), up 0.4 percent from the same period in 2014, the MoIT said.

In February alone, retail sales were valued at more than 276 trillionVND (13.14 billion USD), a 3.7 percent rise from January.

In anticipation of the Lunar New Year, February saw substantialincreases in consumer goods purchases such as household utensils,apparel, footwear, food, and soft drinks.

An arrayof promotional programmes were offered by businesses in February tostimulate purchasing power and the supply of goods and services atsupermarkets and traditional markets were ensured, the ministry said.-VNA