In November 2014, the retail trade in Brazil registered positive figures over the previous month: seasonally-adjusted rates of 0.9% for volume of sales and of 1.4% for nominal revenue. It was the fourth consecutive month of growth in both cases. The changes in the quarterly moving average also remained positive: increases of 0.9% for volume of sales and of 1.3% for nominal revenue. The results of the other comparisons for volume of sales were: 1.0% over November 2013; 2.4% in the cumulative rate between January and November; and 2.6% in the cumulative rate in the last 12 months. In the same order, nominal revenue recorded the following rates: 7.1%; 8.7% and 8.9%.

The complete publication of the survey can be accessed on page www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/comercio/pmc/.

TABLE 1
BRAZIL - INDICATORS OF VOLUME OF SALES OF RETAIL TRADE AND EXTENDED RETAIL TRADE ACCORDING TO GROUPS OF ACTIVITIES: PMC
November 2014

Source: IBGE, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Serviços e Comércio.
(*) Seasonally adjusted series
(**) The retail trade indicator comprises the figures of the activities numbered 1 to 8
(***) The extended retail trade indicator comprises the figures of the activities numbered 1 to 10

Seven out of ten activities post positive changes

In the seasonally adjusted series, seven out of the ten activities surveyed registered positive figures in volume of sales in relation to the previous month, highlighted by the segment of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (9.6%), followed by Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (5.5%); Furniture and household appliances (5.4%); Office, computer and communication equipment (4.9%); Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear (3.4%); Other articles of personal and domestic use (2.7%); and Construction material (0.4%). The following segments reduced the volume of sales: Fuels and lubricants (-0.2%); Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (-0.3%); and Hypermarket, supermarket, food, beverages and tobacco (-0.8%).

Concerning the eight activities that comprise the retail trade, the figures for volume of sales, compared with November 2013, were as follows, in order of participation in the overall rate: 9.3% for Other articles of personal and domestic use; 5.9% for Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics; 1.6% for Furniture and household appliances; 1.6% for Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear; 4.7% for Office, computer and communication equipment and material; 0.0% for Fuels and lubricants; -5.3% for Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery; and -1.5% for Hypermarket, supermarket, food, beverages and tobacco.

In November, Other articles of personal and domestic use exerted the highest contribution to the inter-annual positive result of retail, as a result of the increase of about 9.3% in volume of sales over November 2013. As it involved segments which are very sensitive to the holiday season, such as department stores, jewelries, sporting goods stores and toy stores, its performance suggested anticipated purchases, especially of Christmas decoration, a behavior already detected in previous years. Concerning the cumulative indicators, the rate for the first eleven months of the year was 7.8% and, for the last 12 months, 8.2%. Ranked above the overall rate of the sector, these figures were due, at a certain extent, to the increase in the usual real average wage bill of employed persons - 3.0% over November 2013, according to the Monthly Employment Survey of IBGE -, as well as to credit, despite its decreasing pace of expansion.

By changing 5.9% in volume of sales compared with November 2013, the segment of Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics, exerted the second biggest positive contribution to the overall rate of the retail trade. By expanding about 9.1% in the cumulative rate between January and November, over the same period of 2013, and 9.4% in the cumulative rate in 12 months, this activity remained a highlight in terms of cumulative performance, which should be especially attributed to the essential nature of its products.

By increasing 1.6% in relation to November last year, the activity of Furniture and household appliances recorded the third highest positive participation in the formation of the retail trade rate. By posting the rates of 1.1% in the cumulative index between January and November and of 0.9% in the cumulative index in the last 12 months, this segment remained underperforming. The gradual removal of incentives - reduced IPI - from white goods and furniture and the increase of the interest rate influenced this performance.

Extended retail changes 1.2% in volume of sales and 2.2% in nominal revenue

The extended retail trade, which comprises the retail trade plus the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material, recorded the third consecutive seasonally-adjusted positive change in volume of sales (1.2%) in relation to the previous month. Nevertheless, the extended retail trade registered negative rates in volume of sales in relation to the same month a year ago (-2.7%) and in the cumulative indexes in the year (-1.6%) and in 12 months (-1.2%).

The negative performance was essentially determined by the inter-annual reductions in volume of sales of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, which recorded a retraction of about -9.9% over November 2013; of -9.5% in the cumulative index between January and November; and of -8.6% in the cumulative index in the last 12 months. The segment of Construction material posted a behavior similar to vehicles, i.e., seasonally-adjusted positive rates in relation to the previous month and decreases both in relation to November 2013 (-2.4%) and in the cumulative index in the year (-0.1%). This segment rose only in the cumulative index in 12 months (0.3%).

TABLE 3
BRAZIL - COMPOSITION OF THE MONTHLY RETAIL TRADE RATE, BY ACTIVITIES: PMC - November 2014 (*)
(Indicators of volume of sales)

Source: IBGE, Diretoria de Pesquisas, Coordenação de Serviços e Comércio.
(*) Corresponds to the participation of sectoral results in the formation of the overall rate

Positive figures in 23 Federation Units, compared with November 2013

Concerning volume of sales, 23 out of the 27 Federation Units registered positive figures when comparing November 2014 with November 2013. The major increases were recorded in Roraima (18.4%), Amapá (17.3%), Acre (9.4%), Rondônia (9.2%) and Tocantins (5.4%). Negative figures were reported in São Paulo (-0.3%), Espírito Santo (-1.3%), Mato Grosso (-1.9%) and the Federal District (-2.7%). Concerning the participation in the composition of the retail trade rate, the highlights were, in order: Minas Gerais (2.0%), Ceará (4.7%), Rio de Janeiro (1.2%), Bahia (2.6%) and Pernambuco (2.7%).

In regard to the extended retail, 16 states posted positive changes in relation to November last year. The highest rates were registered in Roraima (15.8%), Tocantins (15.5%), Amapá (9.8%), Pará (5.5%) and Acre (4.7%). The negative highlights were São Paulo (-8.2%), Espírito Santo (-4.6%), the Federal District (-3.3%) and Paraná (-3.1%). In terms of negative contribution to the result of the sector, the highlights were São Paulo (-8.2%), Paraná (-3.1%) and Minas Gerais (-1.9%); the positive highlights were Rio de Janeiro (1.8%), Ceará (3.9%) and Pará (5.5%).