In December 2016, the volume of sales of the national Retail Trade shrank 2.1% against the previous month, in the seasonally adjusted series, after a 1.0% advance in November. In this comparison, the change of the nominal revenue was of -2.1%. The average moving indicator leaves its relative stability recorded on the quarter ended in November (-0.1%) and registers again a negative rate in December (-0.5%). The same trend was observed for the change of the nominal revenue (-0.2% to -0.7%). In the non-adjusted series, the total sales decreased 4.9% in relation to December 2015 - the twenty-first negative change in a row in this kind of comparison. As a result, the rates for the volume of sales were negative both in the fourth quarter of 2016 (-5.5%) and for the year (-6.2%). The nominal revenue for these comparisons continued positive, with changes of 2.0% over December 2015 and 4,5% for the cumulative index in the year.

In the Extended Retail Trade, which also includes Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material, the change over November 2016 stood virtually stable for the volume of sales (-0.1%) and for the nominal revenue (-0.3%). In the comparison with 2015, the volume of sales registered a negative result in relation to December (-6.7%) and for the cumulative index of the year (-8.7%). The nominal revenue also posted drops over December 2015 (-1.2%) and in the cumulative index of January-December (-0.7%). Click here to see the complete publication.

Four of the eight activities surveyed down

In the seasonally adjusted series, between November and December 2016 there was a drop of 2.1% in the volume of sales of the retail trade, with negative results in four of the eight activities in retail. The advance was influenced, mainly, by Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food, beverages and tobacco (-3.0%), Other personal and household articles (-3.9%), and Furniture and household appliances (-2.5%). Those activities decreased in December after an increase of sales recorded in November, with changes of 1.0%, 4.3% and 2.0%, respectively. Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-1.1%) recorded the sharpest fall observed in the previous month (-0.3%). Among the activities with a growth in sales, the highlight wasFuels and lubricants (2.1%), which had and advance after eight negative rates in a row, accumulating a loss of 6.0%. The other positive results were recorded in Office, computer and communication equipment(1.9%), followed by Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear e Pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles, both with a change of 0.1%. Considering the Extended Retail Trade, the -0.1% rate between December and November keep the sales virtually stable, even with Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces (1.8%) and Construction material (2.1%) posting advance over November.

Source: IBGE, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Serviços e Comércio.

Note: The composition of the monthly rate corresponds to the participation of sectoral results in the formation of the golobal rate.

Sales of retail trade down 6.2% in 2016

In the cumulative index of 2016, over the same period of the previous year, the volume of sales of theretail trade recorded a 6.2% drop, the sharpest of the time series started in 2001. This behavior was seen in the eight activities in retail, six of them registering the sharpest decreases of their time series in the cumulative index of 2016. The activities that stood out in terms of contribution to the global results were:Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food, beverages and tobacco (-3.1%); Furniture and household appliances(-12.6%); Other personal and household articles (-9.5%); Fuels and lubricants (-9.2%); Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear (-10.9%); Pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles (-2.1%);Office, computer and communication equipment and material (-12.3%) and Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-16.1%).

Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food, beverages and tobacco (-3.1%) registered the sharpest drop since 2003 (-4.8%) and exerted the highest negative influence on the reduction of retail overall. The loss in the real earnings and the increase in the prices of food at home, in the same period, were the main responsible for the negative performance of the sector.

Furniture and household appliances recorded a less sharp decrease (-12.6%) than that of the end of 2015 (-14.1%), contributing with the second highest negative impact to the annual rate of the retail trade. With a sale dynamics related to credit availability and evolution of earnings, the sector's result, below the general average, was influenced mainly by the rise of the interest rate in the credit operations for natural persons and by the real wage bill.

Other personal and household articles, which encompass department stores, glasses shops, jewelry shops, sporting good stores and toy stores, etc., recorded the first negative change for the volume of sales in this kind of comparison (-9.5%), and exerted the third highest impact in the annual retail rate.

Fuels and lubricants (-9.2%) represented the fourth biggest negative contribution to the annual result of retail. Such result, below the general average, was influenced by the aforementioned reduction of the real wage bill, and by the impact caused by economic downturn.

Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear (-10.9%) recorded the most intense decrease in the time series. Even with prices of wearing apparel underperforming in relation to the overall inflation rate, the activity presents cumulative results below the overall average of the retail trade, reflecting the decreasing purchasing power of the families.

Despite the essential nature of Pharmaceutical, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics(-2.1%), the segment recorded the first decrease in the time series, started in 2004.

Office, computer e communication equipment and material (-12.3%) recorded the sharpest drop in its time series time series. These figures reflect not only the reduction of the real earnings and the increase of the interest rate, but also the exchange rate appreciation of the dollar throughout 2016, since some pieces are imported.

Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-16.1%) recorded the sharpest fall observed in the time series. Besides the reduction in the real earnings, the downward trend of this activity has been influenced, as far as newspapers and magazines are concerned, by a certain replacement of print products by electronic ones.

The Extended Retail Trade recorded the sharpest drop in its time series (-8.7%). This performance reflects, above all, the behavior of sales of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (-14.0%) andConstruction material (-10.7%). Such performance is explained by the decreasing pace of financing, the rise of the interest rate and the budgetary restriction of families.

Results by area: Amapá is the only place not to fall in retail sales

From November to December 2016, in the seasonally adjusted series, the retail sales were negative for  26 of the 27 Federation Units, with the biggest drops coming from Paraíba (-6.3%), Goiás (-5.7%) and Rondônia (-5.1%), whereas Amapá (0.1%) held stable between November and December.

Over December 2015, original series, the Retail Trade recorded decrease in the volume of sales for 25 of the 27 states, with highlight to Pará (-12.6%), followed by Mato Grosso (-12.4%) and Rondônia (-12.0%). As to the contributions to the retail trade negative rate, the highlights were São Paulo (-4.2%) and Rio de Janeiro (-7.4%).

In the cumulative index in the year of 2016, over 2015, the retail trade registered  reduction in the volume of sales in 26 of the 27 Federation Units, with a highlight, in terms of the magnitude of the rate, to Amapá (-18.1%), Pará (-13.1%), Rondônia (-12.3%) and Bahia (-12.1%). Roraima, advancing 1.2%, was the only state which had growth of sales in 2016.

In the Extended Retail Trade, 25 of the 27 Federation Units recorded negative changes in the comparison with December in the previous year. In terms of volume of sales, the highlights are Rondônia (-15.5%), Pará (-12.6%), Amapá (-11.0%) and Espírito Santo (-11.9%). The states with the greatest negative impact were São Paulo (-7.7%) and Rio de Janeiro (-8.5%). On the other hand, Roraima (5.5%) and Sergipe (2.6%) recorded advance in relation to December 2015.

In the cumulative index of the year, 26 of the 27 Federation Units registered drops, with a highlight to Amapá (-16.3%); Espírito Santo (-15.0%); Pará (-14.0%) and Tocantins (-13.1%). Roraima, advancing 0.7%, was the only state which had growth of sales in 2016.

Updated on 14/02/2017 at 9:45h.