Despite the complex developments of COVID-19 with many areas across Da Nang under lockdown, between January and August, the supply of essential goods saw a good growth rate as compared to the same period last year.

The form of purchase is flexibly changed from on-site to online in line with pandemic prevention and control curbs.

According to the latest data released by the Da Nang Statistics Office, the total retail sales of goods is expected to have reached VND3,759 billion in August 2021, equaling 81% of the figure recorded in the previous month and increasing by 6.8% from the same period last year.

In particular, there were 9 groups of goods recording a positive growth as compared to the year-ago.

Meanwhile, 3 groups of goods saw a decline in the review 8-month period, namely garments down 4.5%, cultural and educational products 1.5% and other fuels (except for petrol) 0.8%.

As accumulated, the total retail sales of goods recorded in the January – August period are estimated at VND40,647 billion, up 12.7% over the same period last year.

Some commodity groups with a large proportion achieved a high rise such as foodstuffs, up 16.3%, automobiles of all kinds 15.8%, wood and construction materials 15.9% and other types of goods 16.5%.

Out of the 12 commodity groups, 2 showed a downward trend, namely other fuels (except for gasoline, and oil) and vehicles (except for cars, including spare parts).

In addition, a hike in the price of food was mainly attributed by the fact that many local residents hoarded food in large volumes for consumption during the ‘stay-at-home’ period.

Also, electricity, tap water and gas prices went up, thus contributing to making the consumer price index (CPI) in August 2021 increase by 0.44% as compared to the previous month and up 3.38% over the same period last year.

Two groups of goods witnessed an increase in consumer price index as compared to the previous month, namely food and catering services up 2.65%, equipment and household appliances up 0.08%.

In addition to the high public demand amid the COVID-19 resurgence, the supply of food encountered difficulties from the stages of transportation and quarantine, causing the price of food group to go up significantly.

Reporting by QUYNH TRANG – Translating by A.T