Prices are stable, but purchasing power is sluggish.

Reporters observed at several markets in Hanoi, such as Cau Dien Market (Cau Dien, Nam Tu Liem); the makeshift market near the Sports Hospital (My Dinh, Cau Giay); Dong Xa Market (Mai Dich, Cau Giay); the makeshift market in the 5-story building area; and the makeshift market on Nguyen Dong Chi Street (Cau Dien, Nam Tu Liem)... that food prices remained stable, and in many cases even decreased compared to normal days.

Prices of green vegetables for the April 30th holiday this year are stable compared to normal days.

Specifically, the prices of fresh food items are as follows: Chicken: 105,000 – 130,000 VND/kg (live), 140,000 – 150,000 VND/kg (slaughtered); Duck and goose: 65,000 – 70,000 VND/kg (with feathers), 90,000 - 110,000 VND/kg (slaughtered); Pork: 110,000 – 160,000 VND/kg (depending on the type); Beef: 130,000 – 320,000 VND/kg (depending on the type).

Prices of seafood such as shrimp, crab, and squid increased slightly by 10,000-15,000 VND/kg early this morning, but by 10 am the prices had decreased again, returning to normal levels.

Leafy green vegetables such as red amaranth, jute mallow, water spinach, and cabbage cost from 5,000 to 7,000 VND per bunch; tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and radishes cost from 12,000 to 15,000 VND per kilogram; and zucchini costs from 15,000 to 18,000 VND per kilogram… (these prices remain stable compared to normal days).

The prices of flowers have not increased either.

Fruit prices are also relatively stable: lilies are 60,000 VND/bundle of 10 stems; gladiolus are 200,000 VND/bundle of 10 stems; watermelons, oranges, mangoes, mangosteens, and plums remain at the same prices as usual, only pineapples have increased by 3,000-5,000 VND/fruit.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Chung (from Vinh Phuc province, selling goods at the makeshift market in the 5-story building area (Cau Dien, Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi )) lamented while picking up goods for customers: " The market this holiday season is much slower than last year! "

Not only are traditional markets and local markets experiencing sluggish sales, but many supermarkets and shopping malls are facing a similar situation, despite significant price reductions of 30-50% on many items. Co.op Mart supermarkets are offering rotating discounts of 15-20% on fresh food items such as pre-prepared steamed red snapper with soy sauce, pre-prepared salted basa fish fillets with lemongrass, sweet cabbage, Da Lat carrots, cucumbers, white oyster mushrooms, green pomelo, Cat Chu mangoes, and seedless Australian black grapes...

At many supermarkets, purchasing power is also sluggish.

Le Thi Linh, a sales employee at the Winmart Cau Dien counter, said: " To stimulate shopping during the April 30th - May 1st holiday, many items are heavily discounted, and the shelves are full of goods, abundant and diverse, but the number of buyers is very low ."

Reporters observed that the prices of many food items at supermarkets have decreased significantly compared to normal days. It is known that supermarkets had previously coordinated with suppliers to plan price reductions and promotions during the holiday period, focusing on essential goods such as rice, livestock meat, poultry, and some dairy products; they also proactively managed their supply chains to stimulate consumer demand and contribute to market stability.

Anticipating a lack of increased consumer demand during the April 30th - May 1st holiday this year, many small traders have limited their inventory, maintaining regular prices, or even offering discounts to attract customers, but sales have been quite sluggish.

On weekdays, this small alley is always congested with people selling and buying fresh food.

However, forecasts indicate that tomorrow (May 1st), consumer demand and entertainment activities in Hanoi will increase, as many families and students plan to return to the capital starting this afternoon.

Representatives from several supermarkets shared the same opinion, predicting that shopping demand would increase the following day, as workers returned to the capital to rest and prepare for the new workday, while this day remained a holiday for both students and workers.

Reportedly, to ensure the safety of people's shopping needs, the General Department of Market Management has directed local Market Management Departments to strengthen inspection and supervision of goods during the April 30th - May 1st holiday; strictly handle hoarding, unreasonable price increases; and the exploitation of the holiday to trade counterfeit, fake, and substandard goods.

Many items are offered at good discounts to stimulate consumer demand.

As a key tourist destination nationwide, during this year's April 30th and May 1st holidays, the Hanoi City 389 Steering Committee directed functional forces to take measures to control tourism service prices, requiring tourism businesses and individuals to strictly comply with regulations on price registration, price listing, and selling at the listed price; preventing arbitrary price increases, harassment, coercion of customers, and price gouging that negatively affects the image of the locality in particular and the capital in general; detecting, preventing, and resolutely handling individuals who pester or harass tourists; and ensuring sufficient staff to guide and support tourists.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/thi-truong-thuc-pham-ngay-le-3042024-gia-on-dinh-suc-mua-tram-lang-317516.html