Vietnam retail sales growth reach 8.3 per cent in the first half of this year, according to government data.

In the first seven months of this year, the private sector accounted for 85.6 per cent of total retail sales, earning $73.4 billion or a year-on-year increase of 9.5 per cent, according to the Vietnam News Service..

Vu Manh Ha of the General Statistics Office, says the nation’s retail sales stabilised during the first quarter. Sales rose eight per cent in the first four months, 8.2 per cent in the first five months and 8.3 in the first six.

He attributed the stabilisation in the growth rate to a low increase in the Consumer Price Index.

Total retail sales reached US$85.8 billion.