In the seasonally-adjusted series, volume of sales of the retail trade changed 0.1% in May 2026 over April, after dropping 1.6% in April 2026. As a result, the quarterly moving average changed -0.2% in the quarter ending in May 2026, after showing stability (0.0%) in the quarter ending in April 2026.

After rising 1.0% in April, volume of sales of the retail changed 0.4% over May 2025. In the year, retail accumulated an increase of 1.7% and, in the last 12 months, of 1.4%.

In the extended retail trade, which includes the activities of Vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces; Construction material and Wholesale specialized in food products, beverages and tobacco, volume of sales changed -0.2% in May compared to the immediately previous month, after a drop of 0.7% in April 2026. As a result, the quarterly moving average for the extended retail changed -0.3% in the quarter ending in May 2026, after registering a change of 0.1% in the quarter ending in April.

Compared to the same month in 2025, the extended retail declined –0.6%, after a growth of 1.4% in April 2026. In the year, the indicator increased 1.3% and, in the last 12 months, 0.1%.

In the seasonally-adjusted series, the rise in volume of sales of the retail trade from April to May 2026 registered five positive rates and three negative rates. In the positive field, the highlights were Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (15.2%), Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear (3.1%), Furniture and household appliances (2.7%), Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic products and toiletries (1.4%) and Fuels and lubricants (1.1%).

In the negative field, there were Office, computer and communication equipment and material (-1.7%), Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-1.5%) and Other articles for personal and domestic use (-0.3%). In the extended retail trade, Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces (1.8%) and Construction material (2.1%) also grew.

Compared to May 2025, five activities register growth

In the comparison between May 2026 and the same month of the previous year, there were five activities in the positive field and three in the negative field for retail: Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (22.5%), Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear (3.5%), Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic products and toiletries (2.7%), Fuels and lubricants (2.0%), Furniture and household appliances (1.7%), Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (-0.5%), Other articles for personal and domestic use (-2.6%) and Office, computer and communication equipment and material (-4.1%).

The sector of Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery showed a 22.5% increase in sales compared to May 2025, after stability (0.0%) in April. The result represented the biggest increase for the sector since September 2022, when it had registered 31.0%. In the seasonally-adjusted reading month against the same immediately previous month, the activity grew 15.2% from April to May, higher than all results since March 2025 (25.8%). In the cumulative index in the year, the activity accumulated an increase of 2.9% and, in the last 12 months, of 1.8%.

The activity of Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear recorded an increase of 3.5% compared to May 2025, after a drop of 2.8% in April. Throughout 2026, the sector has been alternating, for this indicator, months of growth and decline: +1.4% in January, -5.8% in February and +2.9% in March. Still in the interannual reading, the activity exerted the second greatest influence on the positive field (along with Fuels and lubricants), adding 0.2 p.p. to a total of 0.4% of retail. Compared to the immediately previous month, already discounting seasonal effects, the result was an increase of 3.1%, the third consecutive non-negative point (0.2% in March and 0.0% in April). The cumulative result in the year was 0.1% above the same period in 2025; in 12 months, the activity recorded losses of 0.5% in relation to the previous 12 months.

The group of Pharmaceuticals, medical and orthopedic products and toiletries changed 2.7% in May 2026 compared to the same month of the previous year, following an increase of 4.5% in April and reaching 39 months of uninterrupted growth for this indicator. As a result, the sector contributed with 0.3 p.p. to the overall retail (0.4%), being the biggest influence among the eight sectors. At the margin, the segment grew 1.4% between April and May, reversing the negative result in the previous month (-0.1%). Considering the cumulative period, the activity registered an increase of 4.3% in the year, while, in the last 12 months, the gains were 4.7% in relation to the previous 12 months.

In the segment of Fuels and lubricants, sales were 2.0% above the level of May 2025, compared to an increase of 1.7% in April and the third consecutive month of growth (7.8% in March). The activity exerted the second greatest contribution in the positive field to the retail result (along with Fabric, wearing apparel and footwear), adding up to 0.2 p.p. to the total of 0.4%. In relation to the previous month, the seasonally-adjusted series showed an increase of 1.1%, reversing the 5.9% drop seen in April. In the cumulative index in the year, the balance showed an increase of 2.3%, the same level as the previous two months (2.5% until March and 2.3% until April); in the cumulative index in 12 months, the result also indicated gains: 1.2% until May 2026.

The sector of Furniture and household appliances showed a 1.7% increase in sales compared to May 2025, after growing 2.6% in April and 6.3% in March, adding up to three consecutive months of increase in sales volume compared to 2025. In the seasonally-adjusted reading month against the immediately previous month, the activity grew again (2.7% from April to May) after five consecutive months recording rates in the negative field. In the cumulative index in the year, the activity showed gains of 3.0% up to May and of 3.8% in the last 12 months.

The activity of Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco recorded a drop of 0.5% compared to May 2025, after seven months showing non-negative results (the last month to show a drop was September 2025: -0.6%). Furthermore, the sector exerted the biggest contribution in the negative field to the retail result (together with Other articles for personal and domestic use), with -0.2 p.p. in the composition of the global rate of 0.4%. Compared to the immediately previous month, already discounting seasonal effects, the result was a drop of 1.5%, reversing in magnitude the positive point of April (1.4%). The cumulative result pointed to an increase of 1.2% in the year; in 12 months, the rate showed gains of 0.5%.

The group of Other articles for personal and domestic use had a change of -2.6% in May 2026 in relation to the same month last year, following a drop of 3.0% in the previous month (in March the sector showed an increase of 11.1%). The activity exerted the biggest negative contribution to the retail result (at the same level as Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco), with -0.2 p.p. in the composition of the global rate of 0.4%. At the margin, the segment changed -0.3% between April and May, after falling 5.0% in April. Considering the cumulative period, the activity registered an increase of 0.5% in the year, while, in the last 12 months, it showed gains of 1.5%.

In the segment of Office, computer and communication equipment and material, sales were 4.1% below the level of May 2025, reversing the growth trajectory of two previous months (22.5% in March and 6.7% in April). In relation to April, the seasonally-adjusted series showed a drop of 1.7%, the second in a row (-4.3% in April compared to March). In the cumulative index in the year, the balance showed an increase of 6.1%; in the cumulative index in 12 months, the result also indicated an increase: 6.9% until May.

The positive reading also appeared in the extended retail for Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces (2.2%), but was negative in both Construction material (-1.8%) and in Specialized wholesale of food products, beverages and tobacco (-7.7%).

The sector of Vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces showed an increase of 2.2% in sales compared to May 2025, the third consecutive for this indicator (12.5% ​​in March and 2.7% in April). As a result, the activity exerted the biggest positive contribution to the extended retail result, adding up to 0.4 p.p. to a total of -0.6%. In the seasonally-adjusted reading month against previous month, the activity grew 1.8% from April to May, the first positive result after two months of declines (-0.7% in March and -0.5% in April). In the year, the activity accumulated gains of 1.2% until May and, in the last 12 months, losses of 3.1%.

The activity of Construction material recorded a drop of -1.8% compared to May 2025, after changing -0.4% in April. Throughout 2026, in the interannual comparison, only the month of March recorded growth in sales volume (8.1%). Compared to the immediately previous month, discounting seasonal effects, the result was an increase of 2.1%, reversing the 2.6% drop in April compared to March. The cumulative result pointed to a drop of 1.0% in the year. In 12 months, the sector also recorded losses: 2.1% until May 2026.

The group of Wholesale specialized in food products, beverages and tobacco changed -7.7% in May 2026 compared to last year, following an increase of 2.1% in the previous month. The activity exerted the biggest negative contribution to the extended retail result, adding -1.1 p.p. in the composition of the global rate of -0.6%. Considering the cumulative period, the activity registered an increase of 0.9% in the year, while in the last 12 months it showed a change of 0.3%.

Retail trade records progress in 11out of 27 Federation Units

From April to May 2026, in the seasonally-adjusted series, the national average retail sales rate showed a growth in 11 out of 27 Federation Units, with emphasis on: Federal District (1.6%), Acre (1.5%), Alagoas (1.5%) and Paraíba (1.5%).

On the other hand, 16 Federation Units were putting downward pressure, with highlights being: Rondônia (-3.4%), Roraima (-3.4%), Amazonas (-2.8%) and Goiás (-2.8%).

In the same comparison, in the extended retail trade, there were positive results in 12 out of 27 Federation Units, with emphasis on: Tocantins (8.7%) and Espírito Santo (3.2%).

On the negative side, there were 12 Federation Units, with highlights being: Mato Grosso (-5.1%), Maranhão (-4.7%) and Goiás (-3.9%). Federal District, Roraima and Rondônia showed stability (0.0%) in the margin indicator.

Compared to May 2025, the retail trade showed progress in 12 out of 27 Federation Units, with highlights being: Tocantins (12.3%), Pernambuco (7.4%) and Santa Catarina (7.0%).

On the negative side, there were 14 Federation Units, with highlights being: Amazonas (-4.5%), Rondônia (-3.5%) and Espírito Santo (-2.9%). Maranhão showed stability (0.0%) in the month-to-month of the previous year comparison.

In the extended retail trade, the change between May 2025 and May 2026 had 19 out of 27 Federation Units showing growth, with emphasis on: Tocantins (14.3%), Espírito Santo (7.1%) and the Federal District (6.3%).

In the negative field, there were eight Federation Units, highlighting São Paulo (-6.4%), Mato Grosso (-3.6%) and Amazonas (-3.2%).

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