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Adequate supply forecast to stabilise Tet market
Stable prices of essential goods as late as a couple of days before the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays is evidence that the city's price stabilisation programme has been effectively implemented, senior officials say.
Initiated by the HCM City People's Committee, the programme provided interest-free loans to help 14 enterprises stock enough goods to keep prices of essential goods stable.
During a visit to participating supermarkets on Sunday, deputy chairwoman of the People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hong said: "We have the most sufficient supplies of goods that has helped stabilise prices of goods in the market this year, despite a 30 per cent year-on-year increase in purchasing power."
Hong said supermarkets such as Co.opMart, Big C, Maximart and Lotte Mart had maintained very good supply of goods despite an increase of 30 to 50 per cent in sales turnover compared with the same period last year.
To ensure good sales on the days before Tet, these supermarkets have also added some 30 per cent of seasonal jobs to serve customers.
Prices of essenial goods at these supermarkets are around 10 per cent lower than in traditional markets.
For instance, Thanh Cong sugar sells at supermarkets at VND4,000 to VND5,000 per kilo less than in traditional markets while Ba Huan eggs sell at VND25,500 per pack (12 units) compared with VND31,000. Other goods like cooking oil, seafood and processed food were all selling at 10 per cent lower than market prices.
Van Duc Muoi, General Director of the country's biggest meat processor Vissan, said despite market prices of pork increasing, with a good reserve built up weeks before the festival, the company was able to ensure sufficient supplies to meet Tet demand.
According to the managers of wholesale markets, prices of vegetables and fruits have only risen by VND1,000 to VND2,000 per kilo this season, much lower than the previous year's figures.
While goods supplies and prices were stable at outlets participating in the programme, Hong said there was still a possibility of price hikes caused by sellers at traditional markets.
To prevent speculation and hoarding of goods at these markets, Hong said management boards had been asked to control prices at every stall.
She also asked relevant authorities to impose serious punishment on market violators incuding unreasonable price hikes.
They should also step up food hygiene and safety inspections, she said.
vietnamnews
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