In May 2026, volume of services in Brasil dropped 0.4% from the immediately previous month, after recording an increase (1.1%) in April. This way, the services sector is 19.6% above the level of February 2020 (pre-pandemic) and, in May 2026, 05% below the peak of the time series, of October 2025. Against May 2025, volume of services increased 0.4%, its 26th consecutive result. The cumulative figure for January-May this year was 1.9%, against the same period in 2025. The cumulative figure in twelve months hit 2.6%, and reduced the pace of increase against the result of April (2.9%).

The reduction in volume of services (-0.4%) from April to May 2026, was observed in two dissemination activities surveyd: transportation (-1.0%) and other services (-1.9%), with both making up for the increases observed in April, of 0.9% and 1.9%, respectively. Professional, administrative and complementary services (1.9%) and services rendered to families (0.2%) recorded advances in the month, the second positive rate for both activities, with tje former recording an increase of 2.5% in the period, whereas the latter had an increase of 1.6% between April and May. Information and communication, in turn (0.0%) recorded stability this month. 

Also in the seasonally adjusted series, the evolution of the quarterly moving average for the total volume of services recorded slight change (-0.1%) in the quarter ended May 2026 from the immediately previous quarter. Among the sectos, also in relation to the marginal movement, two of the five activities recorded negative results: transportation (-0.6%) and other services (-0.6%). On the other hand, professional, administrative and complementary services (0.5%) and services rendered to families (0.1%) recorded increases in tis type of indicator. Information and communication (0.0%), in turn, was stable in May.

Against the same month a year ago, volume of services had a positive change of 0.4% in May 2026, 26th consecutive positive result. Tree of the five dissemination activities recorded advances, with an increase of 47.6% of the 166 types of services investigated.

Among the sectors, information and communication (5,2%) accounted for the main positive impact, mainly due to the increase in revenue of data processing, application service providers and Internet hosting services; portals, content providers and other information services on the Internet; on-demand development of computer programs; broadcast TV activities; and consulting in information technology.

The other advances came from professional, administrative and complementary services (2.3%); and services rendered to families (3.1%), due, to a great extent, to the to the revenue from advertising space brokerage; intermediation of businesses in general through e-commerce platforms or applications; car rental; legal activities; and cleaning in buildings and housing units, in the former sector; and of restaurants; and catering and other ready to eat food services, in the latter. On the other hand, transportation support services to transportation and mailing (-4.2%) and other services (-2.4%) accounted for the only negative impacts, due, to a great extent, to the lower revenue from air passenger transport;  pressionados, em grande medida, pela menor receita vinda do transporte aéreo de passageiros; road freigh transport; mass road transport of passengers and inland waterway freight transport, in the former sector; and auxiliary financial services, in the latter.

As for the cumulative index in January-May 2026, against the sme period a year ago, the seervices sector recorded an increase of 1.9%, with four of the five activities recording positive rates and an increase of 45.8% of the 166 types of services investigated. Among the sectors, the most important positive contribution came from information and communication (6.2%), mainly due to the increase of revenue of companies working in consulting in information technology; telecommunications; data processing, application service providers and Internet hosting services; portals, content providers and other information services on the Internet; software development and licensing; and on-demand development of computer programs.

The other advances were recorded by professional, administrative and compementary services (2.2%); services rendered to families (2.1%); an other services (0.5%), mainly due to the increase in revenue of companies working in advertising space brokerage; intermediation of businesses in general through e-commerce platforms or applications; legal activities; cleaning in buildings and housing units; and allocation of temporary workforce, in the first sector; catering and other ready to eat food services; restaurants; and production and promotion of sports events, in the second; security brokers; administration of stock market and over-the-counter activities; collection of non-harzadous waste; and support acivities to insurance, complementary social security and health insurance plans, in the last one. Conversely, the sector of transportation, support services to transportation and mailing (-1.0%) accounted for the only negative impact on the total volume fo services, mainly due to the lower revenue from air passenger transport; freight logisitcs; mailing activities; and management of ports and terminals.

Volume of services drops in 18 of the 27 Federation Units

Eighteen of the 27 Federation Units recorded dropsin volume of services in May 2026, against the immediately previous month, evidencing the drop of the result in Brazil (-0.4%), in the seasonally-adjusted series. among the areas with negative rates this month, Paraná (-2.3%) recorded the main impact, followed by Rio Grande do Sul (-2.0%), Federal District (-1.6%) and Mato Grosso (-2.5%). Conversely, Rio de Janeiro (1.0%) accounted for the main positie contribution in the month, followed by Bahia (2.2%), São Paulo (0.1%) and Alagoas (3.6%).

In the comparison with the same month a year ago, increase in volume of services in Brazil (0.4%) was observed in 12 of the 27 Federation Units. The main positive contribution came from São Paulo (1,7%), followed by the Federal District (8.3%), Bahia (4.9%) and Alagoas (24.5%). On the other hand, Minas Gerais (-1.7%), Paraná (-2.2%), Ceará (-7.0%) and Amazonas (-9.5%) lead losses in the month.

As for the cumulative index in January-May 2026, against the same period a year ago, the advance of volume of services in Brazil (1.9%) was widespread, and 14 of the 27 Federation Units also recorded increase in the otal revenue of services. The main positive impact in regional terms was found in São Paulo (3.9%), followed by Federal District (10.5%), Mato Grosso (6.1%), Bahia (1.0%) and Santa Catarina (0.8%). On the other hand, Ceará (-5.5%) and Minas Gerais (-1.2%) recorded the main negative contributions to the national index, followed by Amazonas (-5.5%) and Rio de Janeiro (-0.4%).

Tourism activities down by 0.4% in May 

In May 2026, the index of tourism activities recorded a decrease of 0.4% from the immediately previous month, after an increase of 4.1% in April. As a result, the tourism segment is 10.8% above the level of February 2020 and was, in May 2020, 2.5% below the peak of the time series, of December 2024. 

Thirteen of the 17 areas surveyed followed this movement of decrease in national tourism activities (-0.4%). The most negative relative influence came from São Paulo (-0,5%), followed by Santa Catarina (-2.8%), Pernambuco (-2.6%) and Paraná (-1.5%). Minas Gerais (1.4%), on the other hand, led tourism gains this month, followed by Rio de Janeiro (0,1%) and the Federal District (0.4%).

In the comparison between May 2026 and the same month a year ago, the index of volume of tourism activities in Brazil dropped 1.6%, third negative result in a row. This month it was mainly due to the drop in revenue of companies working in the segment of airpassenger trasnport. In regional terms, twelve of the seventeen Federation Units where the indicator is investigated show drops in tourism services, with a highlight to Paraná (-7.7%), followed by São Paulo (-0.9%), Pernambuco (-9.3%), Ceará (-13.4%) and Minas Gerais (-2.8%). Bahia (7.7%) and Rio de Janeiro (1.5%) accounted for the main positive results, followed by Espírito Santo (3.5%), Mato Grosso (4.3%) and Rio Grande do Sul (1.0%).

As for the cumulative index in January - May 2026, the special aggregate of tourism activities recorded a negative change of 0.1% from the same period a year ago, mainly due to the reduction in revenue from companies in the segments of air passenger trasnport; and hotels. Regionally, ten of the 17 areas surveyed also recordd negative rates, where losses in Minas Gerais (-5.6%), Santa Catarina (-5.1%), Pernambuco (-5.5%) and Paraná (-3.9%) stood out. On the other hand, Rio de Janeiro (6.1%) led the gains in tourism, followed by Bahia (3.5%) and São Paulo (0.3%).

Passenger and freight transport record drops in May

In May 2026, the volume of passenger transport in Brazil decreased 1.3% from the immediately previous month and reversed part of the gain of 2.6% observed in April. In this reference month, the segment is 3.0% above the level of February 2020 (pre-pandemic) and 21.0% below that of February 2014 (peak of the time series). Volume of freight transport, in turn, recorded a negative change of 0.2% in May 2026, third negative result in a row, a period when there was a cumulative decrease of 1.8%. Therefore, the segment is 6.1% below the peak of the series (July 2023). As for the pre-pandemic level, freight transport if 35.7% above the level in February 2020.

As for the same month a year ago, without seasonal adjustment, passenger transport dropped 8.3% in May 2026; freight transport dropped 2.8% in the same type of comparison, with both recording the second negative result in a row.

Regarding the cumulative index in January-May this year, passenger transportation recorded a decrease of 1.1% from the same period in 2025, whereas freight transport recorded a slight increase of 0.2% in the same period investigated.