The retail sales increased 0.7% in September 2019 compared with August this year. This was the fifth positive result in a row, a period in which the segment accrued a gain of 2.4%. After consecutive retreats in 2015 and 2016, these results registered the smallest distance in relation to the record level reached in October 2014, standing 4.7% below that level.

With the highest dynamism of the trade in the last three months, the moving average index in the quarter ended in September (0.6%) sharpens the growth pace over the stability present between March and June 2019.

Compared to September 2018, retail grew 2.1%, the sixth consecutive positive rate. Thus, the trade sector indices were positive for both the closing of the third quarter of 2019 (2.6%) and for the first nine months of the year (1.3%), both comparisons against the same periods of the previous year. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, from 1.4% in August to 1.5% in September, indicates stability in the pace of sales.

In the extended retail, which includes the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and Construction material, the volume od sales expanded by 0.9% compared to August 2019, the seventh positive rate in a row, a period in which it accumulated a 4.0% gain. Thus, the moving average for the quarter ending September (0.6%) showed an increase in the pace of sales, compared to the moving average for the quarter ended August (0.3%).

Compared to September 2018, the extended retail trade advanced 4.4%, the sixth consecutive positive rate. As a result, the extended retail grew 3.6% in the year-to-date indicator and 4.4% in the third quarter of 2019. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, from 3.7% until August to 3.8% until September, also pointed stability in this comparison.

Seven of the eight activities surveyed grew in September

Seven of the eight activities surveyed by PMC had positive results in September, contributing to the 0.7% retail rate. Positive pressures were exerted by Furniture and appliances (5.2%), Textiles, apparel and footwear (3.3%), Other personal and household articles (1.8%), Fuels and lubricants (1.2% ), Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic, toiletries and cosmetics (0.5%), Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food, beverages and tobacco (0.2%) and Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (0.2%) . The only negative rate was in Office, computer and communication equipment and supplies (-2.0%), after having advanced 3.8% in the previous month.

Considering the expanded retail trade, the volume of sales in September grew 0.9% compared to August 2019, in the seasonally adjusted series, with predominance of positive rates, also reaching Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (1.2%) and Construction material (1.5%), both, respectively, after decreases of 1.7% and 0.6% registered in the previous month.

In September 2019, compared to the same month of the previous year, the retail trade advanced 2.1%, the sixth positive rate in a row. The calendar effect drove the month's result up, as September 2019 (21 days) had two more business days than the same month of the previous year (19 days).

Among the growing activities are Other personal and household articles (8.5%), followed by Furniture and household appliances (8.2%) and Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic, toiletries and cosmetics (6.7%). Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (0.1%) lost pace and remained close to stability, while Fuels and lubricants (-0.5%), Textiles, apparel and footwear (-1, 8%) and Office, computer and communication equipment and supplies (-1.3%) and Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-15.7%) recorded negative rates. With an increase of 4.4% compared to September 2018, the extended retail trade had the sixth positive rate. The result mainly reflected the contribution of the performance of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (10.5%), while Construction material increased by 5.7%.

Compared to September 2018, the segment of Other personal and household articles (8.5%), which includes department stores, opticians, jewelry stores, sporting goods, toys stores, etc., gained pace compared to the August result ( 4.7%) and made the largest contribution to the overall retail result. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months registered a rate of 6.3%, with pace gain in relation to the result of August (5.9%).

Furniture and appliances (8.2%) had the second largest positive impact on the formation of the rate of September 2019, after a decrease of 1.3% in August. Thus, the cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, from a change of -0.8% until August to 0.0% in September, interrupted the sequence of nine negative rates that had been observed since December 2018 (-1.3%).

Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (6.7%) posted the 29th consecutive growth and made the third largest contribution to the overall retail rate. In terms of cumulative results in the last 12 months, from 6.2% until August to 6.6% in September, there was an increase in the intensity of growth.

The Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food, beverages and tobacco sector (0.1%) registered the fourth consecutive positive rate in this comparison, but the lowest one among them. The performance of the activity has been supported by the stability of the usual real earnings, despite the increase in prices of the food at home. The analysis of the cumulative indicator in the last 12 months showed stability in the September result (0.8%) compared to that of October (0.8%).

Fuels and lubricants (-0.5%) made a negative contribution to the total retail income. As a result, the annualized cumulative indicator in the last 12 months (-0.3%) has remained negative since March 2015 (-0.3%).

The Textiles, apparel and footwear sector (-1.8%) registered the second consecutive negative rate in this comparison. Thus, the cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, from 0.7% in August to 0.5% in September, keeps the loss of pace that began in July 2019 (1.3%).

The activity of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (-15.7%) had the 26th negative change in a row. The behavior of this activity has been influenced by changes in the trade of the main items of the activity. As a result, the annualized indicator, accumulated in the last 12 months, signals pace stability, repeating in September (-25.5%) the same change of August (-25.5%).

The Office, computer and communication equipment and supplies segment (-1.3%) showed the fourth consecutive negative rate. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months (-0.3%) sharpens the pace of decrease in sales compared to August (-0.1%).

Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (10.5%) posted the sixth consecutive positive rate, making the largest positive contribution to the September result for the extended retail. The analysis of the cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, registering 11.2% until September, showed stability in relation to the cumulative index until August (11.3%),

Construction material (5.7%) grew again after falling 1.5% in August in this comparison. The cumulative indicator in the last 12 months, from 2.9% in August to 3.5% in September, showed a gain in sales pace in this comparison.

Retail advances 2.6% in Q3 2019

From a quarterly perspective, the retail trade, advancing 2.6% in the third quarter of 2019, maintains the positive behavior present for ten consecutive quarters, all comparisons against the same quarter of the previous year. The increase in retail sales intensity from the second (1.0%) to the third (2.6%) quarter of 2019 was observed in the vast majority of activities, especially Furniture and appliances (-0.3% to 4.7%) and Textiles, clothing and footwear (-1.9% to 0.5%). On the other hand, showing a loss of pace compared to the second quarter of 2019, only Fuels and lubricants (from 0.9% to 0.5%) and Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces (from 13.6% to 10.0 %) stand out, as shown in Table 2.

Sales advance in 22 of the 27 Federation Units

Compared to September 2019, retail increased by 0.7%, with a predominance of positive results in 22 of the 27 Federative Units, especially Minas Gerais (7.7%), Rondônia (6.3%) and Espírito Santo (4.0%). On the other hand, pressing negatively, there are five of the 27 Federation Units, especially Amapá (-1.4%) and Maranhão (-1.3%).

For this same comparison, in the extended retail trade, the change between August and September was 0.9%, with a predominance of positive results in 21 of the 27 Federation Units, namely: Goiás (4.0%), Piauí ( 3.9%) and Minas Gerais (3.5%). On the other hand, there are six of the 27 Federation Units with negative results, with a highlight to Amapá (-4.4%).

Compared to September 2018, the change in the national retail sales increased by 2.1%, with a predominance of positive results in 16 of the 27 Federation Units, especially Amapá (21.3%), Amazonas (12, 5%) and Tocantins (9.7%). On the other hand, pressing negatively, there are 11 of the 27 Federative Units, especially Sergipe (-4.8%), Rio Grande do Sul (-3.8%) and Rondônia (-3.7%). As for the participation in the composition of the retail rate, the main positive impacts came from São Paulo (2.3%), Minas Gerais (6.4%) and Santa Catarina (9.6%).

Considering the extended retail trade, in comparison with September 2018, the 4.4% increase was predominant in positive results, reaching 21 of the 27 Federation Units, especially Amapá (28.3%), Santa Catarina (13.1%) and Tocantins (11.3%). On the other hand, pressing negatively, there are six of the 27 Federation Units, especially Piauí (-2.7%), Rondônia (-2.5%) and Rio Grande do Sul (-1.7%). As for the participation in the composition of the extended retail rate, the highlights again are São Paulo (4.8%), Minas Gerais (9.1%) and Santa Catarina (13.1%).