(VOVworld)- The demand for goods ahead of the Lunar New Year has increased 10 to 15%. Shops, supermarkets and even small markets are all busy and crowded.  Government agencies have put in place several measures to ensure sufficient goods for Tet.

Vietnam achieved a GDP growth rate of nearly 6.7% this year. Purchasing power improved dramatically. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, consumer demand ahead of the Lunar New Year increased 10% to 15% this year. The Ministry urged enterprises to prepare sufficient goods for Tet. Available goods include goods under the price stabilization program worth 230 trillion VND. Vo Van Quyen is Head of the Domestic Market Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade: “Goods under the price stabilization program are available at more than 8,600 markets, 750 supermarkets, more than 150 shopping centers, thousands of convenience shops and from more than 1 million distributing agents. We have also sent thousands of trucks carrying Vietnamese goods to rural areas, and set up vending stalls in industrial parks, and in remote mountain and island areas. We have also set up distribution channels selling goods under the price stabilization program”.

Mr. Quyen said that measures to keep prices from going up have been put in place: “This year, more than 40 cities and provinces launched price stabilization programs. Banks and enterprises joined connectivity chains. Enterprises in 17 localities benefited from stabilization interests rates from the state budget. Other enterprises in other cities and provinces arranged capital on their own. Enterprises participating in the price stabilization program agreed to reduce their prices between 3 and 10%”.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and other agencies have closely monitored the implementation of the price stabilization program. Market management agencies have been asked to increase price inspections and checking for fraudulent goods.