In May 2018, the volume of sales of the national retail trade changed from -0.6% against April, in the seasonally-adjusted series, practically offsetting the 0.7% registered in the previous year. As a result, the quarterly moving average stood at 0.4% and reduced the pace in relation to the result of the quarter ended in April (0.6%). In the seasonally-adjusted series, the retail trade grew 2.7% in relation to May 2017. It was the 14th positive rate in a row. Therefore, the retail accumulated a rate of 3.2% in the year. The cumulative index in 12 months grew 3.7%, keeping stable in relation to April (3.7%) and continuing the upward trend started in October 2016 (-6.8%).

In the extended retail trade, which includes the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material, the volume of sales fell 4.9% in relation to April and the quarterly Moving Average stayed at -0.6% in the quarter ended in May. Over May 2017, there was a 2.2% high, 1the 3th consecutive positive rate and the least sharpened in the period, reflecting the effects of the truckers' strike and the consequences for the economy. The cumulative index of the last 12 months (6.8%) had a pace of decline, interrupting the upward trend started in July 2016 (-10.4%). The support material of the PMC is on the right of this page.

Six of eight of the activities surveyed show decrease

In the seasonally-adjusted series, the change of -0.6% in the volume of sales of the national retail trade from April to May 2018, reached six of the eight activities surveyed. Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-6.7%) had the most declining result followed by fuels and lubricants (-6.1%), office, computer and communication material and equipment (-4.2%), fabric, apparel and footwear (-3.2%), furniture and household appliances (-2.7%), pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (-2.4%). Otherwise, the only activity that recorded a increase between April and may was hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (0.6%), in other personal and household articles the sales remained stable.  

Considering the extended retail trade, the decline of 4.9%  interrupted 4 consecutive months of positive rates, with vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces declining 14.6%, whereas construction material declined 4.3%, reflecting the truckers' strike.

In relation to May 2017, the volume of the retail trade increased 2.7%, the 14th consecutive positive index, reflecting the effects of the trucker's strike in the trade supply on different activities.  By sectors, the positive index in May happened only in three of the eight activities that makes up the retail, highlighted by hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (8.0 personal and household articles (6.9%) and Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics (4,5%). On the other hand, although positive, the result of May had prevalence of negative rates among the activities, with five of the eight ones negatively influencing the global retail average: Fuels and lubricants (-7.9%), Furniture and household appliances (-6.1%), Fabric, apparel and footwear (-3.6%) and, with less impact, Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-14.0%) and Office, computer and communication material and equipment (-7.9%).

The sector of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco, with an increase of 8.0% in the volume of sales against May 2017, accounted for the biggest negative impact on the overall performance of  the retail trade. This segment was the least affected by the trucker's strike in May,  a fact which was largely due to the sale of basic need items. The maintenance of the usual real wage bill of salaried persons and the systematic decrease of inflation regarding food at home were the main factors accounting for the positive performance of the sector.  With the result of May, the sector accumulated 5.6% from January to May 2018, and in 12 months, there was a cumulative advance of 4.2%, keeping the upward trend started since March 2017 (-3.0%).

The group of other personal and household articles which covers department stores, jewelry shops, sporting goods and toy stores, increased 6.9% compared to May 2017, having the second largest positive influence on the overall rate. The sector was influenced in part by the celebration of Mother's Day, with a positive impact in this activity, despite the supply crisis that occurred in May. As a result, the segment accumulated 7.8% in the first five months of the year. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, with a rate of 5.9% has been in recovery since September 2016 (-10.4%). 

Volume of sales of Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic articles, toiletries and cosmetics expanded 4.5% in relation to 2017. Due to its essential character, in May 2018, the pharmaceutical sector registered the 13th consecutive positive rate and had the third largest positive impact on the general retail rate. As a result, in 2018, the segment accumulated an increase of 5.9%.  As for the last indicator accumulated in 12 months, the result of 5.6% keeps the industry on an upward trend since April 2017 (-3.5%).

The activity of Fuels and lubricants, with a 7.9% drop in sales compared with the same month last year, showed the 11th consecutive fall and had the greatest negative pressure on the overall result of retail, highlighting the pace of decrease in relation to the April result (- 1.0%). This sector was, naturally, the most affected by the truckers' strike. The price rise of fuels above the average change of prices is a relevant factor that has been influencing the performance of the sector. As a result, the segment accumulated a decline of 4.9% in the first five months of the year. The cumulative index in the last 12 months, from -2.9% in April to -3.5% in May, increased the pace of decline and interrupted the upward trend started in February 2017 (-8.9%).

The segment of furniture and household appliances registered a decrease of 6.1% compared to May last year and has the second largest negative influence on the overall retail rate. This result was influenced by the supply crisis of trade, due to the strike of truck drivers, causing delivery delays and irregularities in the shipping price. However, the segment recorded a 0.7% increase in the cumulative indicator in the year. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months was 7.8% and recorded a significant loss of pace in relation to the April rate (9.6%).

The activity of Fabric, apparel and footwear with a change of -3.6% compared to May 2017, registered the fourth consecutive negative rate, accumulating a loss of 3.5% in the first five months of the year. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, with a change of 3.9%, also shows a loss of pace compared to April (4.7%).

The performance of the activity Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery showed a decrease of 14.0% in the volume of sales, compared to May 2017, a result also influenced by the supply crisis that affected commerce in general. Overall, the rate was -8.5% in the year of 2018. The cumulative inex in the last 12 months remained negative, -6.1%, intensifying, thus, the decrease which started in February 2018 (-3.6%).

The activity of office, computer and communication material and equipment with a decrease of 7.9% in the volume of sales compared to the same month of the previous year, registered a loss of pace compared to April (3.7%). As a result, the cumulative change in the year was -0.4%. The cumulative rate in the last 12 months (-1.7%) showed again a negative result, after the stability in April (0.0%) and March (0.1%).

The extended retail trade recorded for the volume of sales a 2.2% increase against May 2017, the 13th consecutive advance, although the lowest in magnitude. This behavior was mainly impacted by the loss of pace observed in the sales of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces, as a consequence of the strike occurred in May 2018. As a result, the extended retail accumulated a 6.3% increase in the volume of sales from January to May, while the cumulative indicator in the last 12 months (6.8%) lost pace in relation to the April result (7.0%).

The sector of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces showed a 2.2% increase in the volume of sales compared to May 2017, the 13th positive rate, and the lowest one since January 2014 (1.6%). This result was influenced by the difficulty in the supply of vehicles, which were ready for delivery, due to the strike of truck drivers, which lasted eight days. The cumulative indicator in the year (17.8%) showed the only advance with a double digit rate among the activities of the extended retail. As a result, the cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, with a positive change of 12.6%, recorded the less sharp results than the cumulative index until April (12.9%), interrupting the upward trend observed since February 2017.

The Construction material sector, with a rate of -1.9%, compared to the same month of the previous year, recorded a significant loss of pace in relation to April (15.6%), a result that was also impacted by the truck drivers' strike. Yet, the cumulative indicator in the year showed increase of 4.8%. However, the cumulative indicator in 12 months, with a 9.3% increase, showed a slower pace compared to the result of April (10.3%).

Regional results: declines in 15 states in May

From April to May 2018, in the seasonally adjusted series, sales in the retail trade declined in 15 of the 27 Federation Units, with a highlight, in terms of magnitude, to Santa Catarina and Rondônia (both with -4.2%), while Amazonas (6.0%) and Roraima (3.2%) recorded the largest increases in sales in this comparison. Goiás showed stability (0.0%). For this same comparison, the extended retail trade declined in 24 of the 27 Federation Units, with a highlight to Santa Catarina (-7.7%) and Espírito Santo (-7.3%), which had the highest losses. On the other hand, the states that showed the greatest advances between April and May include: Roraima (1.3%), Acre (1.2%) and Amazonas (1.0%).

Compared to May 2017, the retail trade recorded an increase in the volume of sales in 20 of the 27 states, with a positive highlight, in terms of magnitude, to Roraima (11.0%), Amazonas (9.3%) and Rio Grande do Norte (9.0%). On the other hand, the Federal District (-2.5%) and Mato Grosso (-2.1%) had the highest negative rates among all the Federation Units. Concerning the share in the composition of the positive rate of the retail, the highlights were: São Paulo (3.0%), Rio Grande do Sul (6.4%) and Santa Catarina (6.1%).

Considering the extended retail trade, 19 of the 27 Federation Units had positive changes in the volume of sales compared to the same month of the previous year, with a highlight to Roraima (14.1%), Amazonas (12.1%) and Acre (8.7%), while the Federal District (-8.6%) recorded the largest drop among the Federation Units. Regarding the share in the composition of the positive rate of the extended retail, the highlights were: São Paulo (3.7%); Santa Catarina (6.1%) and Rio Grande do Sul (3.6%).