During the long week-end holidays for National Day, purchase power has increased and so has the demand for various essential commodities.
Prices of items in markets are quite stable, but in some traditional markets like Van Thanh, Tan Son Nhat, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, demand for fresh foods increased by 30 percent while it hiked 50 percent for seafoods such as shellfish, crab, shrimps and prices of some seafood leaped 5-10 percent.
This year, Vu Lan Festival, a Buddhist holiday held annually on the 15th of the 7th lunar month, also coincides with these holidays so consumption of mushrooms, vegetables and fruits, soya cheese and water seaweeds for cooking vegetarian dishes also jumped.
Supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City reported an average increase of 30-50 percent on food items during these holidays. Co-op Mart supermarket announced a turnover increase of 65-90 percent in the first week of the ‘Sale Promotion Month’ during the National Day weekend.
Nguyen Thanh Nhan, deputy director of Saigon Co.op supermarket said sales rose as demands for fresh food and necessities increased. Moreover, sales in supermarkets in provinces also went up as people returned to their hometowns to enjoy their holidays.
