Estimates from the municipal Industry and Trade Department indicate thatcapital businesses expect to earn 24 trillion VND (1.2 billion USD) inretail and services revenue during the Lunar New Year – which will fallin late January 2012 – an increase of 20 percent compared to othermonths.
Demand for all types of food, including pork, poultry andfrozen seafood, is expected to surge well beyond normal levels duringthe holiday festivities. Vegetable consumption alone is expected toreach 90,000 tonnes, a 15,000 tonne increase over normal levels.
Deputydirector of the department Nguyen Van Dong told a meeting last weekwith related departments that his department will provide favourableconditions for businesses to search for goods in other provinces toensure low prices, which will help stabilise prices, while conductingregular inspections at supermarkets and price stabilisation shops toprevent speculation.
Goods listed for the stockpile include rice,cooking oil, pork, eggs and sugar, among other essentials. Items partof the stabilisation plan will be priced at 10 percent lower than thoseon the market.
The department asked programme participants to beactive in stockpiling double their normal amount to ensure enough goodsat the city's 561 price stabilisation shops.
Head of thedepartment's Trade Management Office Ho Quoc Khanh said there will notbe a shortage of goods during the holiday because the weather has beenfavourable for production.
The department also askeddistrict-level People's Committees, market management boards,supermarkets and enterprises to submit reports about their holiday goodspreparation before the beginning of next month.
This year, the price stabilisation network will also be expanded to rural areas./.