The volume of retail sales in the country showed stability from July to August, registering a change of -0.1%. However, this is the third consecutive month of negative rates, a period in which it accumulated a loss of 2.5%. In comparison with August 2021, there was growth of 1.6%. In the year, the sector accumulated an increase of 0.5%, and, in the last 12 months, a fall of 1.4%.

The data are from the Monthly Survey of Trade (PMC), released today (7) by the IBGE.

In the extended retail trade, which includes the activities of motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces and construction material, the volume of sales in July fell by 0.6% compared to July and 0.7% against August 2021.

According to the survey manager, Cristiano Santos, August result places trade at the lowest level in 2022. In terms of level, the volume of trade sales is 1.1% above the pre-pandemic level (February 2020) and 5.2% below the highest point of the series, in October 2020. “PMC's trajectory after the pandemic is still very volatile”, he explains.

In the result of August against July, five of the eight activities surveyed had positive results: Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear (13.0%), Fuels and lubricants (3.6%), Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (2.1 %), Furniture and household appliances (1.0%) and Hypermarkets, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (0.2%). The activities with changes in the negative field were: Office, IT and communication equipment and supplies (-1.4%), Other articles for personal and household use (-1.2%) and Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (-0.3%).

“This month, the participation of Hypermarkets and supermarkets was very clearly an anchor factor, holding the change very close to zero. The activity weighs about 50% in the global index. Pharmaceutical articles, with -0.3%, also contributed in terms of weight to this anchoring”, explains the researcher.

Also according to the survey manager, two other activities that fell – Office, IT and communication equipment and supplies and Other articles for personal and household use – have gained relevance in the analysis of the results, due to the negative results in recent months.

Mr. Santos also highlights the activity of Fuels and lubricants, which grew 3.6%, after an increase of 12.6% in July. “The reduction in fuel prices led to a 4.5% drop in nominal revenue, which was offset by a 3.6% rebate in volume. In July this rebate was greater, because the reduction in prices was also greater”.

The activity Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear, with growth of 13.0%, partially offset the declines seen in recent months. “The activity dropped 11.4% from May to June and 13.0% from June to July, so the current growth doesn't even compensate for the drops in previous months”, he explains.

In extended retail, the 4.8% growth in Motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts and pieces also comes after several months of decline. “The activity dropped 4.5% from May to June and 2.7% from June to July, so the August result is still not enough to resume the level prior to these two months of decline”, explains the manager. He adds that this growth in volume is also reflecting a drop in vehicle prices.

On the other hand, Construction material fell by 0.8%. “There was strong growth after the pandemic, both for residential works, at first, and for larger works, in a second moment. Now, little by little, this growth is being discounted. The activity was more than 12.0% above the pre-pandemic level and today it is 1.6% above”, contextualizes Mr. Santos.

Trade grows again year-on-year, after three months of decline

The PMC released today also shows that, in comparison with August 2021, retail trade grew 1.6%, after three consecutive months of decline.

Five activities grew: Fuels and lubricants (30.2%), Books, newspapers, magazines and stationery (19.0%), Pharmaceutical, medical, orthopedic articles and toiletries (6.6%), Office equipment and supplies , information technology and communication (2.1%) and Hiper, supermarkets, food products, beverages and tobacco (1.4%).

The three sectors that fell in the interannual comparison were Other articles of personal and household use (-10.5%), Furniture and household appliances (-8.5%), and Textiles, wearing apparel and footwear (-5.6%).

Both activities of extended retail trade dropped: Motor vehicles and motorcycles, parts and pieces fell 4.1% and Construction material, 7.1%.

Retail sales grow in 15 Federation Units between July and August

From July to August, 15 Federation Units had a rise, especially Paraíba (27.1%), Roraima (3.9%) and Federal District (3.6%). Among the falls, Sergipe (-2.2%), Rondônia (-1.9%) and Pernambuco (-1.7%) stand out.

Compared to August 2021, there were positive results in 20 Federation Units, especially: Paraíba (35.6%), Roraima (16.5%) and Mato Grosso (16.3%). Exerting a negative pressure were Rio de Janeiro (-6.7%), Pernambuco (-5.0%) and Rondônia (-3.8%). Goiás registered stability (0.0%).

“This growth in Paraíba is related to the strategies of large companies in relation to the distribution and commercialization of their products. Today, Paraíba is a distribution hub in the Northeast”, explains Mr. Santos.

More about the survey

The PMC produces indicators that allow monitoring the short-term behavior of the retail trade in the country, investigating the gross revenue from resale in formally constituted enterprises, with 20 or more employed persons, and whose main activity is main is the retail trade.

Started in 1995, the survey brings monthly results of the volume change and nominal sales revenue for the retail trade and extended retail trade, which includes motor vehicles and construction materials, with data for Brazil and Federation Units. The results can be consulted on Sidra.